Introduction: Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) is a new anesthesiological technique, where the giving of opioids (fentanyl) is avoided in the intra- and post-operative period. This leads to reduction in the opioid-related side effects and lower pain scores in the postoperative period. Materials and methods: In this randomized, single-blind clinical study, 60 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled. Half of them (30 patients) received general balanced anesthesia with fentanyl (F group-FG), and the half received opioid-free general anesthesia (OFA group-OFAG). In the post-operative period, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were followed at rest and when coughing 1 hour, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 12 and 24 hrs after surgery. Both groups were followed by opioid requirements in the postoperative period. Results: In the postoperative period, patients in the fentanyl group (FG) have higher pain scores at rest and on coughing in all analyzed timeframes compared to patients from the OFA group, but statistically significant difference was approved 1 and 24 hours after surgery. In the OFA group 24 hours after surgery none of the patients reported pain at rest and when coughing number 7, 8, 9 and 10 according to the VAS pain score. The total opioid requirement in the postoperative period was significantly higher in the fentanyl group (FG) at rest and when coughing, compared to the OFA group. Conclusion: Opioid-free anesthesia as a part of multimodal analgesia and a new anesthesiology technique is a safe procedure, where opioid-related negative effects in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy are avoided..

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Introduction: Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy do experience postoperative pain, especially in the abdomen. Postoperative pain management remains a major challenge after laparoscopic procedures. Administration of intraperitoneal local anesthetic (IPLA) after surgery is used as a method of reducing postoperative pain. In this study, we evaluated the effect of intraperitoneal infiltration of local anesthetic (bupivacaine) for pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Material and methods: In this prospective, controlled, and randomized study were included 50 patients aged 25-60 years (35 female and 15 male), scheduled to laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ASA classification 1 and 2. Patients were classified randomly into two groups: group A, which included 25 patients who received intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine 0.5% 20 ml; and group B, which included 25 patients who didn’t receive any intraperitoneal instillation. Postoperative pain was recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for 24 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results: There was no significant difference with respect to age, weight, and sex; duration of surgery; and anesthesia time. VAS scores at different time intervals were statistically significantly lower at all times in group A compared to group B. There were statistically significant differences in VAS scores between group A and group B at all postoperative time points - 1hr,4 hr,8 hr,12hr and 24hr (p < 0.00001). Conclusion: Intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine provides good analgesia in the postoperative period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Opioid free anesthesia (OFA) is deffined as anaesthesiological technique where opioids are not used in the intraoperative period (systemic, neuroaxial or intracavitary). Anaphylaxis caused by opioids (fentanyl) is very rare, and the reaction is presented with hypotension and urticaria. When we have proven allergy to fentanyl, patients’ refusal of placing epidural catheter and refusal of receiving bilateral ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block (USG TAPB), we must think of using multimodal nonopioide analgesia. The concept of multimodal balanced analgesia is consisted of giving different analgesic drugs in purpose to change the pathophysiological process which is included in nociception, in way to receive more effective intraoperative analgesia with less adverse effects. This is a case report of a 60-year-old male patient scheduled for laparotomic hemicolectomy, who previously had proven allergy to fentanyl. We have decided to give him an opioid free anaesthesia. Before the induction to anaesthesia, the patient would receive dexamethasone (dexasone) 0.1 mg/kg and paracetamol 1 gr intravenously. The patient was induced into general endotracheal anesthesia according to a standardized protocol, with midazolam 0.04 mg/kg, lidocaine hydrochloride 1 mg/kg, propofol 2 mg/kg and rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg. Anaesthesia was maintained by using sevoflurane MAC 1 in order to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) with a value of +/- 20% of the original value. After tracheal intubation, the patient had received ketamine hydrochloride 0.5 mg/kg (or 50 mg ketamine) in bolus intravenously and a continuous intravenous infusion with lidocaine hydrochloride (lidocaine) 2 mg/kg/hr and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) 1,5 gr/hr. At the end of surgery the continuous intravenous infusion with lidocaine and magnesium sulfate was stopped while the abdominal wall was closed and 2.5 g of metamizole (novalgetol) was given intravenously. VAS score 2 hours after surgery was 6/10 and 1 gr of paracetamol was given and the patient was transferred to the Department. Over the next 3 days, the patient had a VAS score of 4-6/10 and only received paracetamol 3x1g and novalgetol 3x1 gr daily, every four hours.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a usual complication in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Minimized opioid use due to surgery has been shown to have a better effect on patient recovery after surgery. In this study we evaluate the effect of opioid free anesthesia for postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and methods: 80 patients aged 20-65 years old were included in this randomized, clinical and prospective trial. The patients belonged to the ASA classifications 1 and 2 and were scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were classified into two groups: group 1 (fentanyl group- FG), which included 40 patients who received opioid anesthesia, and group 2 (opioid free anesthesia group-OFAG) which included 40 patients who received opioid free anesthesia. In patients from group 1 (fentanyl group -FG) introduction to general anesthesia consisted of giving midazolam at 0.04 mg/kg, fentanyl at 0.002 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg of propofol and 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium bromide. These patients received fractionated bolus doses of fentanyl during surgery. Prior to general anesthesia these patients did not receive dexamethasone. The patients from group 2 (opioid free anesthesia group - OFAG) received dexamethasone at 0.1 mg/kg and 1 g of paracetamol before introduction to anesthesia as a pre-emptive analgesia. Introduction to anesthesia consisted of giving midazolam at 0.04 mg/kg, lidocaine at 1 mg/kg, propofol at 2 mg/kg, ketamine at 0.5 mg/kg, and 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium bromide. Immediately after intubation, continuous intravenous infusion with lidocaine at 2 mg/kg/h and magnesium sulfate at 1.5 g/h was given. In this group, fentanyl was not given either during the introduction of anesthesia or during the intraoperative period. Immediately after extraction of the gallbladder patients from group 2 (OFAG) received 2.5 g of metamizole intravenously. PONV were recorded in the postoperative period of 24 hours after surgery. Results: There was no significant difference with respect to age, weight, sex, duration of surgery, and anesthesia time. PONV at different time intervals were statistically not significant at all postoperative time points – 1 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 12 hr and 24 hr after surgery in fentanyl group compared to opioid free anesthesia group. Even not statistically significant, PONV have occurred more often in patients who received opioid anesthesia. Conclusion: Postoperative nausea and vomiting occurs more often in patients who received opioids during laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to patients who received opioid free anesthesia, but without statistical significance.