SLEEP AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

The sleep pattern and oxygenation of 10 patients undergoing laparoscop ic cholecystectomy were studied on the night before operation and the first night after operation. Operations were performed during general anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia was achieved without the admin istration of opioids. There were no significant changes in the total t ime awake or the number of arousals on the postoperative night compare d with the night before operation, During the postoperative night, we found a decrease (P=0.02) in slow wave sleep (SWS) with a correspondin g increase in stage 2 sleep (P=0.01). SWS was absent in four of the pa tients after operation, whereas in six patients it was within the norm al range (5-20% of the night). The proportion of rapid eye movement (R EM) sleep was not significantly changed after operation. There were no changes in arterial oxygen saturation on the postoperative compared w ith the preoperative night. Comparison of our results with previous st udies on SWS and REM sleep disturbances after open laparotomy, suggest s that the magnitude of surgery or administration of oploids, or both, may be important factors in the development of postoperative sleep di sturbances.