BIOAVAILABILITY OF MEDICATION AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Bioavailability of medication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy has n ot been studied previously. There is concern about the ability of pati ents to tolerate oral medication postoperatively and the optimal timin g of hospital discharge. In this study, each subject received 20 mg/kg acetaminophen (po) preoperatively, with a repeat dose at 6 (group 1), 12 (group 2), or 24 h (group 3) postoperatively. Serum levels were ob tained 40 and 90 min after each ingestion. Bioavailability of medicati on was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) 6 h (group 1) and 12 h (grou p 2) postoperatively. Bioavailability returned to baseline by 24 h aft er laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group 3). This study indicates that o ral medication should be used judiciously during the first 12 h after laparoscopic surgery.