Effect of intraperitoneal magnesium sulfate in the prevention of postoperative pain in daycare laparoscopic cholecystectomy – A prospective randomized controlled trial

This study evaluated the efficacy of intraperitoneal magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) in preventing postoperative pain after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). It is a prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized trial which included 64 patients who underwent LC. Patients were equally randomized into Groups A and B. MgSO(4) and normal saline were instilled in subdiaphragmatic space in Groups A and B, respectively, after creating pneumoperitoneum and before starting dissection. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to determine postoperative pain. Patients who received intraperitoneal MgSO(4) had lower average VAS scores for the first 6 h postoperatively, and also, the time for the requirement of first analgesic was longer (3.6 ± 0.4 vs. 2.3 ± 1.0 h). The incidence of vomiting and the requirement for rescue antiemetic was also lower in Group A. Intraperitoneal instillation of MgSO(4) reduces postoperative pain and vomiting following elective LC without incurring additional side effects.