Intraoperative Autonomic Blockade to Prevent Early Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of a combined injection of Bupivacaine, a long-acting local anesthetic, and Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, during laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. The goal is to block the hepatic branches of the celiac plexus by infiltrating the hepatoduodenal ligament and the serosal reflection of the gallbladder cystic plate. This approach aims to improve control of visceral pain after surgery, reduce the need for pain medications, decrease nausea and vomiting, and lower hospital readmissions, thus aiding recovery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive the autonomic nerve block involving a percutaneous injection of 20 mL of 0.5% Bupivacaine and 8 mg of Dexamethasone under direct laparoscopic visualization into the targeted areas. The other group will undergo the standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure without this nerve block. The study is double-blind, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives the nerve block. During the study, participants will be monitored for up to 72 hours after surgery to record the doses of postoperative analgesics used, including rescue medications. Pain levels will be assessed at 1, 24, and 48 hours after the operation. Researchers will also observe hospital stay duration, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and readmission rates. This monitoring aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the autonomic blockade in managing postoperative pain and related symptoms. The trial is expected to run until November 2025.

Intraoperative Autonomic Blockade for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy