Intra-peritoneal Hartmann's Solution as analgesia for diagnostic laparoscopy: A pilot prospective randomised controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intraperitoneal instillation of Hartmann’s Solution reduces postoperative pain after diagnostic laparoscopy. The study design involved of a pilot, prospective randomised controlled trial. Location and participants included women attending day case unit in the gynaecology department of a district general hospital for elective laparoscopies. Whether or not instillation of 1,000 ml of Hartmann’s Solution was given intraperitonealy via the 5 mm insufflator port of laparoscopes at the end of the procedure was monitored. Pain scores at 4 h, 24 h, and 72 h after surgery were evaluated. There was no significant difference in the pain scores. 95% confidence intervals were determined for the differences between means assuming equal variance at 4 h (−1.7 to 1.8), 24 h (−1.9 to 1.9), and 72 h (−2.1 to 0.8) postoperatively. This small study suggests that the instillation of Hartmann’s Solution does not significantly reduce postoperative pain.