Postoperative recovery after cholecystectomy by minilaparotomy: a randomized double-blind comparison between alpha-trinositol and placebo.

An opioid-sparing effect of alpha-trinositol (D-myo-inositol 1,2,6-trisphosphate) following cholecystectomy in otherwise healthy patients was suggested by a pilot study. In order to verify this result, pain, pain relief and nausea were studied in patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy by minilaparotomy. The patients were randomized using double-blind design to receive an intravenous infusion of either alpha-trinositol or sodium chloride (placebo) for eight hr after the operation. Pain, pain relief and nausea were evaluated up to 72 hr after surgery using visual analogue scales (VAS). Rescue analgesic medication was registered. As a further measure of pain and/or restrictions caused by pain, peak expiratory flow, walking distance and pressure pain thresholds were assessed. There was no difference between the groups in ratings of pain, pain relief, nausea or amount of analgesic medication given. The mean ratings of pain were significantly higher in the sitting position compared to lying down. Neither pressure pain thresholds, nor the walking distance differed between the patients given alpha-trinositol and placebo, respectively. There were significant reductions of peak expiratory flow and of pressure pain thresholds under both costal margins up to 72 hr after surgery compared to presurgery values. As a conclusion, no analgesic effect of alpha-trinositol at the dosage used was observed in the postoperative patients studied.