Unveiling the enigma of shoulder pain post laparoscopic surgery: exploring influencing factors and recovery trajectories

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the recovery trajectories of shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopic surgery and identify the factors influencing its occurrence.

Materials and methods

A longitudinal research design with repeated tests was employed using self-administered questionnaires and visual analogue scales of pain. In a tertiary center, a total of 97 participants who underwent gynecological laparoscopic benign surgery were recruited. The data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-squared tests, and generalized estimating equations (GEE) in SPSS for Windows Version 15.0. A two-tailed p-value <.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The prevalence of shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopic surgery was 77.3 %, with a higher incidence of pain reported on the right side (58.7 %). Several factors were found to influence shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopic surgery, including the operation time and use of analgesic (p = .01). Furthermore, postoperative shoulder pain demonstrated a significant negative correlation with pain satisfaction (p < .01) and a significant positive correlation with the use of analgesic injections (p = .05). The shoulder pain score decreased at 24 h after surgery and reached its lowest point at 36 h after surgery (P < .01).

Conclusions

Following gynecological laparoscopic surgery, 77.3 % of patients suffered from shoulder pain, correlating with longer operation times and increased analgesic use. Shoulder pain tended to peak at 12 h post-surgery. Effective pain relief strategies can significantly improve pain management for minimally invasive therapy, enhancing patient satisfaction and recovery outcomes.