The Effect of Respiratory Exercises on Abdominal Distension in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients

The Effect of Respiratory Exercises and Incentive Spirometer Use in the Early Postoperative Period on Abdominal Distension, Shoulder Pain and Mobilization Process in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Patients

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the first-line treatment for symptomatic gallstones. Pneumoperitoneum is the process of expanding the abdominal cavity during the surgical procedure by introducing CO2 gas into the abdomen to widen the field of view and operation. Although CO2 gas is usually released through the subumbilical incision at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, some CO2 gas remains in the peritoneal cavity. This CO2 gas remaining in the peritoneal cavity can cause abdominal distension. Abdominal distension may also increase postoperative pain. In a study, abdominal distension was observed in 42.7% of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. Although CO2 gas is usually released through the subumbilical incision at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, some CO2 gas remains in the peritoneal cavity. This CO2 gas remaining in the peritoneal cavity may cause abdominal distension. On the other hand the incidence of shoulder pain due to pneumoperitoneum and CO2 insufflation after laparoscopic surgery ranges from 35% to 60%. In a study conducted in the Republic of Korea in 2016 in 105 laparoscopic surgery patients, the incidence of shoulder pain after laparoscopy was found to be 80% in the first 24 hours. Inappropriate treatment of postoperative pain in laparoscopic surgery can lead to delayed mobilization, patient dissatisfaction, delayed hospital discharge, and development of chronic pain. In this study, the effect of respiratory exercises and the use of incentive spirometry in the early postoperative period on abdominal distension, shoulder pain and mobilization process in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients will be examined. We aimed to evaluate the effect of deep breathing exercises and the use of incentive spirometry in the early postoperative period on abdominal distension and shoulder pain due to insufflation procedure in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. It is important to take some precautions from the early period to prevent problems that may develop after abdominal surgery. It is thought that the use of deep breathing exercises and incentive spirometry in the early period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy will have an effect on abdominal distension, shoulder pain and mobilization process due to the insufflation procedure.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Respiratory exercise

Detailed Description

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the removal of the cystic duct or dissection of the gallbladder with the help of 4 trocar incision lines and intraoperative cholangiography by creating pneumoperitoneum with Veress needle or Hasson technique while the patients are under general anesthesia. Pneumoperitoneum is the process of expanding the abdominal cavity during the surgical procedure by introducing CO2 gas into the abdomen to widen the field of view and operation. With high-pressure insufflators, CO2 is introduced into the abdomen at an intra-abdominal pressure of 15mmHg. The increase in abdominal pressure caused by abdominal distension affects circulation and ventilation by acting directly on the abdominal compartment and indirectly on the thoracic compartment. The increase in abdominal pressure caused by abdominal distension affects circulation and ventilation by acting directly on the abdominal compartment and indirectly on the thoracic compartment. In a study, abdominal distension was observed in 42.7% of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. Although CO2 gas is usually released through the subumbilical incision at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, some CO2 gas remains in the peritoneal cavity. This CO2 gas remaining in the peritoneal cavity may cause abdominal distension. Abdominal distension may also increase postoperative pain. A study results showed that patients with high abdominal distension had higher average postoperative pain levels during the recovery period. It was also found that patients with high levels of postoperative pain caused a delay in readiness for discharge from the recovery room. In addition, inappropriate treatment of postoperative pain in laparoscopic surgery can lead to delayed mobilization, patient dissatisfaction, delayed hospital discharge, and development of chronic pain. Pulmonary atelectasis, decrease in functional residual capacity and high peak airway pressures may occur due to CO2 ensufflation. In addition, an increase in central venous pressure and an increase in arterial and alveolar CO2 can be detected due to increased intra-abdominal pressure and CO2 absorption. Pulmonary complication rates may reach 20% after upper abdominal and thoracic operations, especially due to decreased use of the diaphragm because of pain. In the literature, it was seen that the most common intervention applied after surgery as a nursing practice in the elimination of abdominal distension was to stand up the patient and to make active and passive movements in the bed. Early mobilization, frequent position changes, deep breathing and coughing exercises, and hydration are important in preventing complications that may develop in the respiratory system. The aim of deep breathing exercises is to ensure deep breathing after surgery and to obtain normal breathing patterns.The incentive spirometer is used to assess the patient's inspiratory effort by measuring the volume of inhalation. The incentive spirometer can be used as a convenient tool in rehabilitation as it is inexpensive and easy to administer with no known side effects. It is thought that the use of deep breathing exercises and incentive spirometry in the early period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy will have an effect on abdominal distension, shoulder pain and mobilization process due to the insufflation procedure.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 156
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Bursa Center
    • Bursa, Bursa Center, Turkey, 16110
      • Bursa City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Volunteer Aged between 18-65 years Comprehensible verbal communication

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with hearing problems Unstable hemodynamics

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; There will be no intervention in this group.
Experimental: Experimental; An intervention will be made to this group	Other: Respiratory exercise; This group will undergo intervention. The participants will be assessed in terms of abdominal distension and shoulder pain in preoperative period. Respiratory exercise training will be given in the preoperative period. At the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 4th, 5th, and 6th hours postoperatively, 10 deep breathing exercises will be performed in semi fowlers 45º position. During this 6-hour period, the patient will be asked to give 10 deep breaths into the incentive spirometer every 2 hours. Patients will be evaluated for abdominal distension and shoulder pain at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th hours postoperatively and mobilization times will be measured in the first 6 hours.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post operative abdominal distension	In the postoperative period, after the patients come to the clinic, all patients will be examined for abdominal distension and their abdominal circumferences will be measured with a tape measure and will be compared with the preoperative period. Patient's statement will also be asked.	Postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, and 6th hours.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post operative shoulder pain	In the postoperative period, all patients' shoulder pain will be measured with with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) after the patients come to the clinic. The scale is typically set up on a horizontal line, ranges most commonly from 0-10. Patients are instructed to choose a single number from the scale that best indicates their level of pain.	Postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, and 6th hours.
Mobilization time	Mobilization times will be measured in minutes in the first 6 hours in the early postoperative period.	The first 6 hours in the early postoperative period.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Araz Askeroğlu, Ph.D., Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hsu KF, Chen CJ, Yu JC, Wu SY, Chen BC, Yang CW, Chen TW, Hsieh CB, Chan DC. A Novel Strategy of Laparoscopic Insufflation Rate Improving Shoulder Pain: Prospective Randomized Study. J Gastrointest Surg. 2019 Oct;23(10):2049-2053. doi: 10.1007/s11605-018-3896-5. Epub 2018 Oct 8.
• Aydemir O, Aslan FE, Karabacak U, Akdas O. Corrigendum to 'The Effect of Exaggerated Lithotomy Position on Shoulder Pain after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy' Pain Management Nursing 2018;19(6):663-670. Pain Manag Nurs. 2019 Feb;20(1):89. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2019.01.002. No abstract available.
• Bataineh AM, Qudaisat IY, Banihani M, Obeidat R, Hamasha HS. Use of intraoperative mild hyperventilation to decrease the incidence of postoperative shoulder pain after laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery: A prospective randomised controlled study. Indian J Anaesth. 2021 Nov;65(11):806-812. doi: 10.4103/ija.ija_576_21. Epub 2021 Nov 23.
• Alaparthi GK, Augustine AJ, Anand R, Mahale A. Comparison of Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise, Volume and Flow Incentive Spirometry, on Diaphragm Excursion and Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Minim Invasive Surg. 2016;2016:1967532. doi: 10.1155/2016/1967532. Epub 2016 Jul 21.
• Tuvayanon W, Silchai P, Sirivatanauksorn Y, Visavajarn P, Pungdok J, Tonklai S, Akaraviputh T. Randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of usual gas release, active aspiration, and passive-valve release on abdominal distension in patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Asian J Endosc Surg. 2018 Aug;11(3):212-219. doi: 10.1111/ases.12451. Epub 2017 Dec 20.
• Yi MS, Kim WJ, Kim MK, Kang H, Park YH, Jung YH, Lee SE, Shin HY. Effect of ultrasound-guided phrenic nerve block on shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy-a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Surg Endosc. 2017 Sep;31(9):3637-3645. doi: 10.1007/s00464-016-5398-4. Epub 2016 Dec 30.
• Zeeni C, Chamsy D, Khalil A, Abu Musa A, Al Hassanieh M, Shebbo F, Nassif J. Effect of postoperative Trendelenburg position on shoulder pain after gynecological laparoscopic procedures: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2020 Jan 29;20(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12871-020-0946-9.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 28, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 5, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pneumoperitoneum; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Shoulder pain; incentive spirometry; Deep breathing exercises
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Arthralgia; Shoulder Pain; Dilatation, Pathologic
• Other Study ID Numbers: 21415022005

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No