THE EFFECT OF INFRA-RED DIODE LASER IRRADIATION ON THE DURATION AND SEVERITY OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN: A DOUBLE BLIND TRIAL

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This trial was designed to test the hypothesis that LLLT reduces the extent and duration of postoperative pain, Twenty consecutive patients for elective cholecystectomy were randomly allocated for either LLLT or as controls. The trial was double blind. Patients for LLLT received 6-8-min treatment (GaAlAs: 830 nm: 60 mWCW: CM) to the wound area immediately following skin closure prior to emergence from GA. All patients were prescribed on demand postoperative analgesia (IM or oral according to pain severity). Recordings of pain scores (0-10) and analgesic requirements were noted by an independent assessor. There was a significant difference in the number of doses of narcotic analgesic (IM) required between the two groups. Controls n = 5,5: LLLT n = 2.5, No patient in the LLLT group required IM analgesia after 24 h. Similarly the requirement for oral analgesia was reduced in the LLLT group, Controls n = 9: LLLT n = 4. Control patients assessed their overall pain as moderate to severe compared with mild to moderate in the LLLT group. The results justify further evaluation on a larger trial population.