Pain Assessment and Analgesic Requirements after Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Comparison Study of Robotic versus Laparoscopic Approaches

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy is the most common bariatric procedure worldwide, yet postoperative pain management remains a concern. This study aimed to compare pain medication usage and pain scores between laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and robotic sleeve gastrectomy (RSG) patients, addressing the potential benefits of RSG in postoperative pain control. Methods: A retrospective review of our institutional bariatric surgery registry included 484 patients (435 LSG, 49 RSG) who underwent surgery between September 2015 and November 2020. Pain management medications, including opioid use converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were analyzed postoperatively using mixed-effects models. Results: RSG patients reported lower pain scores in the initial 24 h post-surgery and received significantly lower doses of morphine equivalents compared to LSG patients (median 7.5 mg vs. 12.5 mg, p < 0.001). RSG procedures had longer operative times (122.5 ± 27.1 vs. 89.9 ± 30.5 min, p < 0.001) but a shorter average length of stay (2.24 ± 0.60 vs. 2.65 ± 1.49 days) compared to LSG. Conclusions: These findings suggest that RSG may lead to reduced immediate postoperative pain and lower opioid requirements compared to the laparoscopic approach, despite longer operative times. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations and evaluate long-term outcomes.