beta-endorphin and Cholecystitis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of saline washout under the diaphragm on postoperative shoulder tip pain (STP) and β-endorphin (βE) levels in patients who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).. Between December 2010 and March 2011, 50 patients requiring cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease were enrolled in this study. Twenty-five patients (Group 1) underwent LC without saline irrigation, whereas the other 25 were operated on with saline irrigation (30 mL/kg) under the diaphragm (Group 2). Plasma levels of βE were measured before and after the operation. The degree of STP following LC was assessed using a visual analog pain scale (VAS) at 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.. Eight patients in Group 1 (32.0%) and seven patients in Group 2 (28.0%) complained of STP. There was no significant difference between the two groups in operation time, postoperative hospital length, postoperative βE, dose of analgesics, or VAS at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. The intensity of abdominal pain (AP) was significantly higher than that of STP. Significantly elevated levels (11.3±5.1 pg/mL) of βE were observed postoperatively when compared with preoperative levels (9.7±5.2 pg/mL) (P=.02).. Normal saline irrigation under the diaphragm does not reduce postoperative STP after LC. Ancillary techniques to reduce AP and STP should be considered.

Topics: Adult; beta-Endorphin; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; Cholecystitis; Cholelithiasis; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Pain, Postoperative; Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial; Shoulder Pain; Sodium Chloride; Therapeutic Irrigation

The plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin was determinated by radioimmunoassay in 75 patients with Wetness-Heat Zheng of Liver and Gallbladder, 23 patients with Insufficient Liver Zheng, 13 patients with Insufficient Spleen Zheng and 30 healthy subjects (control group). Compared with the control group, the plasma beta-EP levels were increased in Wetness-Heat Zheng of Liver and Gallbladder and Insufficient Liver Zheng. The patients with different diseases that were diagnosed to be Wetness-Heat Zheng of Liver and Gallbladder presented high levels of plasma beta-EP. It is suggested that the plasma beta-EP is an important change in the syndrome of Wetness-Heat Zheng of Liver and Gallbladder, and may be used as a diagnostic index.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; beta-Endorphin; Cholecystitis; Cholelithiasis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Liver Diseases; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Middle Aged

Topics: Acupressure; Acupuncture Analgesia; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Appendectomy; Appendicitis; beta-Endorphin; Cholecystectomy; Cholecystitis; Cholelithiasis; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Ear, External; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pain, Postoperative