Evaluation of post‐operative analgesia following laparoscopic application of Filshie clips

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of injecting 1% lignocaine into the subserosal aspect of the cornual end of the fallopian tubes to control post-operative pain after laparoscopic Filshie clip application. DESIGN: A double blind, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: The day surgery unit of the Dunedin Public Hospital, Otago, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine women attending the public hospital requesting sterilisation. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group received an infiltration of 1% lignocaine into the subserosal aspect of the cornual end of the fallopian tubes. The control group received an infiltration of normal saline in the same site. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The use of post-operative pethidine and the scores obtained on a modification of the McGill present pain intensity score, a visual analogue scale of present pain, a pain relief score and comparisons of time to first analgesia use. RESULTS: The use of pethidine in the experimental group was significantly reduced [P = 0.001] Pain relief scores indicated significant benefit from the intervention. The time to first analgesic use was significantly greater in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Lignocaine infiltration at the cornual end of the fallopian tubes during laparoscopic Filshie clip application is highly effective in producing post-operative pain relief.