Effect of abdominal binder after laparoscopic cholecystectomy on enhanced recovery: a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the effects of abdominal binder after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: From August to December 2020, 66 patients who were set to undergo cholecystectomy were selected for a prospective trial at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea, and their clinical characteristics and postoperative surgical outcomes were evaluated. Among 66 patients, 33 patients belong to the abdominal binder group and the other 33 patients belong to the control group. RESULTS: The average hospital stay was 2.46 ± 1.29 days, and was not significantly different between the two groups. The average postoperative pain score (visual analogue scale, 0–10) 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery were not significantly different. However, the degree of comfort score was significantly higher for the control group patients (2.56 vs. 3.33, p < 0.001). Time to the first ambulation, walking ability, return of bowel function, time to full diet resumption, and the numbers of analgesics and antiemetics administered were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: No postoperative recovery benefit and no reduction in hospital stay was found in patients who used an abdominal binder while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Statistically, between the group that used the binder and the one that did not, no significant differences in surgical outcome nor postoperative outcome were observed. The only exception was that the degree of comfort score was significantly higher in the control group. Therefore, in terms of patient benefit and convenience, wearing an abdominal binder after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not recommended.