A RANDOMIZED, PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF PAIN AFTER GASLESS LAPAROSCOPY AND TRADITIONAL LAPAROSCOPY

Study Objective. To compare pain after laparoscopic tubal ligation by gasless laparoscopy versus carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum. Desi gn. Prospective, randomized, single-blind comparison (Canadian Task Fo rce classification I). Setting. Private obstetric-gynecology hospital associated with a university resident teaching program. Patients. Wome n age 21 to 42. Intervention. Single-puncture laparoscopic tubal ligat ion was performed with a silicone elastomer band. Gasless laparoscopy was performed with a Laprolift and traditional laparoscopy with CO2 pn eumoperitoneum. Postoperative pain in the shoulder and periumbilical a nd lower pelvic regions was measured by visual analog scale on the day of surgery and postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14. Measurements an d Main Results. Oi the 67 patients, 54 provided visual analog scales f or analysis, 30 in the gasless group and 24 in the traditional group. No statistical difference was seen in scores for shoulder, periumbilic al, and pelvic pain between techniques. Conclusion. Patients undergoin g gasless laparoscopy and traditional laparoscopy experience similar p ostoperative pain.