Evaluation of Post-Operative Pain Relief Using External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block Versus Trocar Site Infiltration in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gallbladder Removal

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block (EOIB) compared to trocar entry site infiltration for managing pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a common surgery to remove the gallbladder. This study aims to reduce postoperative pain, opioid use, and related side effects while improving patient comfort and recovery. The trial addresses the challenges caused by surgical trauma and the importance of managing pain to avoid complications and shorten hospital stays. Participants will undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia and be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives the EOIB, where a local anesthetic is injected between the external oblique muscle and the 6th rib under ultrasound guidance on both sides of the body. The other group receives infiltration of local anesthetic directly at the trocar entry sites after surgery. All patients receive standard multimodal analgesia with intravenous paracetamol, tramadol, and ondansetron before surgery ends, and morphine via patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively. During the 24 hours after surgery, participants will be monitored for pain levels using a numeric rating scale, opioid consumption, time to first additional pain medication, and any adverse events. Researchers will also assess recovery quality using a questionnaire. The study includes detailed monitoring of medications and side effects, with follow-up lasting the first day after surgery to evaluate pain control and recovery outcomes.

EOIB for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy