LONG-TERM PAIN - LESS COMMON AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC THAN OPEN CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Citation
G. Stiff et al., LONG-TERM PAIN - LESS COMMON AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC THAN OPEN CHOLECYSTECTOMY, British Journal of Surgery, 81(9), 1994, pp. 1368-1370
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
ISSN journal
00071323
Volume
81
Issue
9
Year of publication
1994
Pages
1368 - 1370
Database
ISI
SICI code
0007-1323(1994)81:9<1368:LP-LCA>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Persistent symptoms after cholecystectomy are common, occurring in up to 40 per cent of patients. Severe pain persists in 10 per cent of cas es. A total of 450 patients were studied, 200 after open cholecystecto my and 250 after the laparoscopic operation. Patient notes were review ed and a postal questionnaire was circulated. Responses were obtained from 155 patients (77.5 per cent) undergoing open cholecystectomy and 205 (82.0 per cent) having the laparoscopic operation. Mean(s.d.) foll ow-up was 32(23) months after open cholecystectomy and 15(7) months af ter the laparoscopic procedure. Right upper quadrant pain was more com mon after open cholecystectomy (9.7 versus 3.4 per cent, P < 0.05). In digestion and heartburn were equally prevalent in the two groups. Some 59.4 per cent of patients were free from symptoms after open cholecys tectomy compared with 63.4 per cent following the laparoscopic operati on; there was symptomatic improvement in 30.3 and 31.7 per cent respec tively. Symptoms were the same or worse in 10.3 per cent of patients a fter open cholecystectomy compared with 4.9 per cent after the laparos copic operation (P < 0.05). Patients report significantly less right u pper quadrant pain after laparoscopic than after open cholecystectomy.