Comparative Study of Opioid-Free Anesthesia Versus Opioid Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Overview

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an effective surgical approach for the treatment of gallbladder disorders such as cholecystitis, gallbladder stones or gallbladder polyps. Although the surgical technique for the treatment of cholecystitis with laparoscope shows some gains compared to open surgery, postoperative complications such as abdominal incision pain, nausea and vomiting, or other complications are still challenging issues. Thus, there is a need to study and evaluate new non-opioid pain medications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy as part of an opioid reduction strategy.the aim of the study is To compare the effectiveness and safety of opioid-free anesthesia versus opioid-based anesthesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, focusing on pain management, postoperative recovery, and incidence of adverse effects.

Anesthesia requires a full spectrum of drugs, from which an anesthetic plan can be applied to achieve the desired level of sedation, analgesia, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and reflex abolition. Opioid administration as a bolus dose or continuous infusion is commonly used by anesthesiologists in major and day care surgeries. Using of opioids during anesthesia is associated with various opioid-related adverse effects such as respiratory depression, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, paralytic ileus, and the risk of cognitive and sleep dysfunction , This negative side effect profile of opioids may cause delayed recovery and discharge of patients from the post-anesthesia care unit as well as unanticipated hospital readmissions. The emergence of opioid-free anesthesia was prompted by the adverse effects of opioids and the ongoing opioid epidemic. Opioid-free anesthesia is a multimodal anesthetic and analgesic without the use of opioid drugs and can play a crucial role in enhanced recovery after surgery.