Vol. 10, Issue 6, Part D (2024)

Background: Gall bladder (GB) retrieval is a major reason for postoperative discomfort following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). GB is commonly retrieved either via the epigastric or the umbilical port and there are insufficient data to evaluate the advantage of one over other in terms of postoperative pain. The purpose of this research was to evaluate postoperative port-site discomfort after laparoscopic cholecystectomy gall bladder removal from an umbilical vs an epigastric port.

Materials and Methods: A comparative study conducted in SMS hospital in 60 patients, 30 patients in each group. Group A- GB retrieved from umbilical port, Group B-GB retrieved by epigastric port. Every patient\'s pain was measured at both port locations at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after surgery. Following their release, the patients were monitored in surgery OPD on the fifth postoperative day, and any problems following the procedure were noted.

Results: The VAS score for postoperative pain at the epigastric port was found to be higher at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours compared to the umbilical port. The scores were 3.366 ± 0.764 vs. 4.066±0.907, 3.266±1.014 vs. 3.866±0.937, 3.333±0.922 vs. 4.366±1.033, and 3.366±0.927 vs. 4.733±1.172, respectively. This difference was statistically significant with a P value of 0.001. However, the amount of time it took to retrieve gallbladder (GB) was much greater in the umbilical group, with an average duration of 5.5 ± 1.19 compared to 4.6 ± 0.758 in the other group.

Conclusion: The umbilical port is superior to the epigastric port for gallbladder retrieval in patients having elective four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy, since it results in less postoperative discomfort at the port site. However, it does need a comparatively longer time for extraction.