Comparison of gallbladder extraction via the subxiphoid port and the supraumbilical port during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized clinical trial

Postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most frequent postoperative complaint. To date, gallbladder extraction via the subxiphoid port (SXP) versus the supraumbilical port (SUP) is still controversial. Thus, we performed this randomized controlled trial to compare postoperative pain between the SXP and SUP for LC. From June 2021 to June 2023, patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to two groups. The perioperative data of both groups were recorded and compared. A total of 253 patients were enrolled in the analysis. There were 126 in the SXP group and 127 in the SUP group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of gallbladder extraction, whether the incision was extended, the least rate of pain, the average rate of pain, the right-now rate of pain, postoperative pain on the 5th, 7th, and 14th days, postoperative complications and Vancouver Scar scale (VSS). However, the SUP group had a lower the worst rate of pain (4.24±2.45 vs. 4.91±2.45, P=0.031) and 3 days of pain (3.35±1.57 vs. 3.75±1.52, P=0.045) than did the SXP group. The influence of pain on general activity (4.51±2.90 vs. 3.76±2.92, P=0.041), mood (3.62±2.66 vs. 2.92±2.36, P=0.028), walking ability (4.40±3.01 vs. 3.66±2.76, P=0.044), and enjoyment of life (3.19±2.68 vs. 2.32±2.34, P=0.007) in the SXP was more severe than that in the SUP. The extraction of the gallbladder via the SUP is superior to that via the SXP because the early postoperative 24-hour pain and pain on the third day are mild and do not increase the duration of gallbladder extraction or the risk of infection or hernia.