Systematic Review and Metaanalysis of Intraperitoneal Instillation of Local Anesthetics for Reduction of Pain After Gynecologic Laparoscopy

We reviewed the effectiveness of intraperitoneal instillation of local anesthetic on pain after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Sources included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations databases, and abstracts, reference lists, and randomized controlled trial (RCT) registries. The 7 included RCTs compared pain scores after administration of intraperitoneal analgesics or placebo/control during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery with benign indications. Outcome measures were pain scores (per visual analog scale) at 1 to 2, 4 to 6, and 24 hours postoperatively. Pain scores were significantly lower in the groups receiving local anesthesia at 1 to 2 hours (weighted mean difference [WMD], −1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.55 to −1.08]) and 4 to 6 hours postoperatively (WMD, −2.00; 95% CI, −3.64 to −0.35), but were similar at 24 hours (WMD, −1.43; 95% CI, −1.15 to 0.96). Local analgesia instilled intraperitoneally significantly decreased pain during a 6-hour interval after gynecologic laparoscopy.