Shoulder Pain , Laparoscopic CholecystectomyNCT07450781
The Impact of Saline Temperature and Local Anesthetic Adjuvants on Postoperative Shoulder Pain and Inflammatory Marker Levels Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
A study testing Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic., Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). and Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. in people with Shoulder Pain , Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, run by Alexandria University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the operative treatment of gallbladder disease due to its minimally invasive nature and improved patient outcomes. However, postoperative pain remains a significant concern following this procedure, affecting patient comfort, recovery, potential for same… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Shoulder Pain , Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- What is being tested?
- Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic., Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). and Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 216 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2026to 1 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18-65 years.
- Scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- Informed consent obtained.
Who cannot join
- 1 - Allergies to anesthetics or saline. 2-Previous shoulder surgery. 3-Significant comorbidities (e.g., chronic pain syndromes, autoimmune diseases). 4-Pregnancy or lactation.
- 5-Current use of anti-inflammatory medications or steroids
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the operative treatment of gallbladder disease due to its minimally invasive nature and improved patient outcomes. However, postoperative pain remains a significant concern following this procedure, affecting patient comfort, recovery, potential for same day discharge and overall satisfaction. However, visceral pain, port-site pain, and referred shoulder pain are occasionally reported in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients . Postoperative shoulder pain is a common complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, often attributed to diaphragmatic irritation.
Read the detailed description
This study will be a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with a factorial design, consisting of six groups based on saline temperature and the presence of local anesthetic adjuvants:
Group A1: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.
Group A2: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight).
Group B1: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. Group B2: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine).
Group C1: No saline irrigation. Group C2: No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites).
Intervention: All of the patients will not premedicated . The anesthesia will be induced along with lidocaine 1 mg/kg, propofol 1.5 mg/kg, and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg intravenous, and was maintained with sevoflurane (2-3%). The intraoperative and postoperative pain will be controlled with intravenous fentanyl 2-3 μg/kg. All the laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs) will be performed by the same team of experienced professionals. A pneumoperitoneum will be created by insufflating CO2 gas through a 10- mm trocar in the umbilicus, and will be maintained at 12 mmHg throughout the surgery. Prior to the surgery, all patients will be moved into a reverse Trendelenburg position with a left tilt (10°), and the LC will be conducted using the standard 4-port technique. After complete hemostasis, a drain insertion will be selectively performed only in cases with intraoperative bile leakage. The patients will then randomly divided into 6 groups Saline irrigation will be performed after the removal of the gallbladder but before the closure of the trocar incisions. Local anesthetic (bupivacaine: 0.25%) will be added to the saline solution in groups A2 and B2 or administered to the subdiaphragmatic area in the no-irrigation group (C2).
A standardized postoperative analgesic regimen will be consisting of 8 h interval regular IV ketorolac 30mg and Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) that will be started at the PACU and continued during the first 24 h postoperatively. PCA device will be used for all patients to deliver a continuous IV infusion of 0.3 mg/h of morphine and a bolus of 1 mg IV morphine with a 20 min lockout time.
Outcome Measures Primary Endpoint: Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Secondary Endpoints: Postoperative Abdominal Pain): Patients will rate their abdominal pain intensity on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) using, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 6 ,12,18,24 and 48 hours. Total Postoperative Analgesic Consumption:,Total amount of opioid and non-opioid analgesics used in the first 72 hours.Time to First Rescue Analgesic: Time from the end of surgery to the first administration of rescue analgesics (e.g., opioid).Length of Postoperative Hospital Stay: Duration from the end of surgery to discharge.Patient Satisfaction with Pain Control: Patients will complete a satisfaction questionnaire during the first 72 hours. Incidence of Postoperative Shoulder Pain: Proportion of patients reporting shoulder pain during the first 72 hours.
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV): Document the occurrence of nausea and vomiting postoperatively.Time to Return to Normal Activities: Time to return to normal daily activities, including mobility and routine tasks, measured postoperatively.Blood Levels of Inflammatory Markers: C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Measured preoperatively and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6): Measured preoperatively and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. Blood samples will be collected and analyzed using ELISA or another validated assay
- Being tested
- Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic., Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight)., Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic., Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine)., No saline irrigation.
- Medical subject headings
- Shoulder Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.Other
Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.
Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight).Other
Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight).
Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.Other
Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.
Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine).Other
Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine).
No saline irrigation.Other
No saline irrigation.
No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites).Other
No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Room-temperature saline without local anesthetic. | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. |
| Room-temperature saline with local anesthetic bupivacaine | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). |
| Warm saline irrigation without local anesthetic. | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. |
| Warm saline with local anesthetic | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine). |
| No saline irrigation. | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: No saline irrigation. |
| No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites). |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Measured: 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2026
- Primary completion1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Shoulder Pain , Laparoscopic CholecystectomyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Alexandria UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 216 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Alexandria University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07450781
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Postoperative Shoulder Pain
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 1 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: through clinical trials
Publications
Rosero EB, Joshi GP. Hospital readmission after ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy: incidence and predictors. J Surg Res. 2017 Nov;219:108-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.05.071. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
PubMed 29078868
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Saline Temperature and Local Anesthetic Adjuvants on Postoperative Shoulder Pain and Inflammatory Marker Levels Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07450781
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Postoperative Shoulder Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 216 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Alexandria UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for the operative treatment of gallbladder disease due to its minimally invasive nature and improved patient outcomes. However, postoperative pain remains a significant concern following this procedure, affecting patient comfort, recovery, potential for same day discharge and overall satisfaction. However, visceral pain, port-site pain, and referred shoulder pain are occasionally reported in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients . Postoperative shoulder pain is a common complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, often attributed to diaphragmatic irritation.
Detailed description
This study will be a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial with a factorial design, consisting of six groups based on saline temperature and the presence of local anesthetic adjuvants:
Group A1: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.
Group A2: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight).
Group B1: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. Group B2: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine).
Group C1: No saline irrigation. Group C2: No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites).
Intervention: All of the patients will not premedicated . The anesthesia will be induced along with lidocaine 1 mg/kg, propofol 1.5 mg/kg, and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg intravenous, and was maintained with sevoflurane (2-3%). The intraoperative and postoperative pain will be controlled with intravenous fentanyl 2-3 μg/kg. All the laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs) will be performed by the same team of experienced professionals. A pneumoperitoneum will be created by insufflating CO2 gas through a 10- mm trocar in the umbilicus, and will be maintained at 12 mmHg throughout the surgery. Prior to the surgery, all patients will be moved into a reverse Trendelenburg position with a left tilt (10°), and the LC will be conducted using the standard 4-port technique. After complete hemostasis, a drain insertion will be selectively performed only in cases with intraoperative bile leakage. The patients will then randomly divided into 6 groups Saline irrigation will be performed after the removal of the gallbladder but before the closure of the trocar incisions. Local anesthetic (bupivacaine: 0.25%) will be added to the saline solution in groups A2 and B2 or administered to the subdiaphragmatic area in the no-irrigation group (C2).
A standardized postoperative analgesic regimen will be consisting of 8 h interval regular IV ketorolac 30mg and Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) that will be started at the PACU and continued during the first 24 h postoperatively. PCA device will be used for all patients to deliver a continuous IV infusion of 0.3 mg/h of morphine and a bolus of 1 mg IV morphine with a 20 min lockout time.
Outcome Measures Primary Endpoint: Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Secondary Endpoints: Postoperative Abdominal Pain): Patients will rate their abdominal pain intensity on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) using, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 6 ,12,18,24 and 48 hours. Total Postoperative Analgesic Consumption:,Total amount of opioid and non-opioid analgesics used in the first 72 hours.Time to First Rescue Analgesic: Time from the end of surgery to the first administration of rescue analgesics (e.g., opioid).Length of Postoperative Hospital Stay: Duration from the end of surgery to discharge.Patient Satisfaction with Pain Control: Patients will complete a satisfaction questionnaire during the first 72 hours. Incidence of Postoperative Shoulder Pain: Proportion of patients reporting shoulder pain during the first 72 hours.
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV): Document the occurrence of nausea and vomiting postoperatively.Time to Return to Normal Activities: Time to return to normal daily activities, including mobility and routine tasks, measured postoperatively.Blood Levels of Inflammatory Markers: C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Measured preoperatively and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6): Measured preoperatively and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. Blood samples will be collected and analyzed using ELISA or another validated assay
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 6
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Room-temperature saline without local anesthetic. | Experimental | Other: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. |
| Room-temperature saline with local anesthetic bupivacaine | Experimental | Other: Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). |
| Warm saline irrigation without local anesthetic. | Experimental | Other: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. |
| Warm saline with local anesthetic | Experimental | Other: Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine). |
| No saline irrigation. | Experimental | Other: No saline irrigation. |
| No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic | Experimental | Other: No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adults aged 18-65 years.
- Scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
- Informed consent obtained.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 1 - Allergies to anesthetics or saline. 2-Previous shoulder surgery. 3-Significant comorbidities (e.g., chronic pain syndromes, autoimmune diseases). 4-Pregnancy or lactation.
- 5-Current use of anti-inflammatory medications or steroids
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. | Other | Room-temperature saline without local anesthetic. |
| Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight).Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). | Other | Room-temperature saline with local anesthetic bupivacaine |
| Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic.Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. | Other | Warm saline irrigation without local anesthetic. |
| Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine).Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg) with local anesthetic (0.25% bupivacaine). | Other | Warm saline with local anesthetic |
| No saline irrigation.No saline irrigation. | Other | No saline irrigation. |
| No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites).No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic (local anesthetic instillation at trocar sites). | Other | No saline irrigation but with local anesthetic |
Primary outcome
Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Time frame: 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Mar 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 29078868Rosero EB, Joshi GP. Hospital readmission after ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy: incidence and predictors. J Surg Res. 2017 Nov;219:108-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2017.05.071. Epub 2017 Jun 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. through clinical trials
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic., Room-temperature saline (25-30 ml/kg l) with local anesthetic ( 0.25% bupivacaine according to body weight). and Warm saline (37°C, 25-30 ml/kg ) irrigation without local anesthetic. in people with Shoulder Pain , Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, run by Alexandria University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Postoperative Shoulder Pain Intensity: VAS scores recorded at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. (time frame: 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07450781, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Mar 2026.