Stress Response in Open and Laparoscopic Procedures

Abstract

BACKGROUND The main aim of our study was to compare and evaluate the stress response, postoperative recovery and postoperative pain in laparoscopic procedures compared to conventional open surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective study was done in 100 patients undergoing surgery for inguinal hernia, symptomatic cholelithiasis and subacute appendicitis. The study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital for a period of six months from January 2015 to June 2015. The study group of 100 patients was divided into 2 groups, each group comprising 50 patients. The first group consisted of 50 patients who underwent conventional open surgical procedure and second group consisted of 50 patients who underwent minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. The stress response in the two groups was compared on the basis of preoperative and postoperative serum cortisol, glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, duration of hospital stay and postoperative wound infections. RESULTS Compared to the open surgical group, the stress response in laparoscopic group was less as shown by the difference in mean cortisol level in both the groups. It was also seen that the post op recovery is also faster and incidence of postoperative wound infection is also less in the laparoscopic group compared to the open conventional group. CONCLUSION On the basis of our study one can conclude the laparoscopic surgical procedure is associated with less stress, less pain, less anxiety, early recovery and less hospital stay compared to conventional open procedures.