THE EFFECT OF NITROUS-OXIDE AND CARBON-DIOXIDE PNEUMOPERITONEUM ON POSTLAPAROSCOPY TUBAL-LIGATION PAIN

No study has investigated objectively the effects of various pneumoper itoneum gases on postlaparoscopy pain. The purpose of this study was t o compare objectively the effect of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide p neumoperitoneum on postlaparoscopic pain. Patients undergoing laparosc opic tubal ligation under general anesthesia were randomized to carbon dioxide (n = 24) or nitrous oxide (n = 29) pneumoperitoneum. A modifi ed McGill pain questionnaire was used to assess postlaparoscopic pain at 15 min, 1 h, and 25 h postoperatively. The demographics and surgica l characteristics of each group were comparable except for patient wei ght. There was no difference between the groups in postoperative analg esic requirements or pain ratings for each studied time period. Based on these results, nitrous oxide pneumoperitoneum does not appear to pr oduce less postlaparoscopic pain than carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum.