POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY AFTER CHOLECYSTECTOMY BY MINILAPAROTOMY - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON BETWEEN ALPHA-TRINOSITOL AND PLACEBO

An opioid-sparing effect of alpha-trinositol (D-myo-inositol 1,2,6-tri sphosphate) following cholecystectomy in otherwise healthy patients wa s suggested by a pilot study. In order to verify this result, pain, pa in relief and nausea were studied in patients undergoing elective chol ecystectomy by minilaparotomy. The patients were randomized using doub le-blind design to receive an intravenous infusion of either alpha-tri nositol or sodium chloride (placebo) for eight hr after the operation. Pain, pain relief and nausea were evaluated up to 72 hr after surgery using visual analogue scales (VAS). Rescue analgesic medication was r egistered. As a further measure of pain and/or restrictions caused by pain, peak expiratory flow, walking distance and pressure pain thresho lds were assessed. There was no difference between the groups in ratin gs of pain, pain relief, nausea or amount of analgesic medication give n. The mean ratings of pain were significantly higher in the sitting p osition compared to lying down. Neither pressure pain thresholds, nor the walking distance differed between the patients given alpha-trinosi tol and placebo, respectively. There were significant reductions of pe ak expiratory flow and of pressure pain thresholds under both costal m argins up to 72 hr after surgery compared to presurgery values. As a c onclusion, no analgesic effect of alpha-trinositol at the dosage used was observed in the postoperative patients studied.