Intravenous lidocaine has been shown to have analgesic, antinflammatory, antihyperalgesic, antithrombotics and neuroprotective properties. In a previous study conducted in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia with desflurane and fentanyl, intraoperative i.v. infusion of lidocaine spared opioids consumption in the recovery room by 30%.

The purpose of this study was to determine if an i.v. infusion of lidocaine without intraoperative opioids would reduce the amount of fentanyl to the same extent and opioids-related side effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• age <18 yr or > 85 yr,
• ASA physical status 3 and greater, history of hepatic failure (Child & Pug A-C),
• renal failure (creatinine outside the normal range) or cardiac failure (NYHA I-IV),
• Adams-Stoke syndrome,
• severe degrees of sinoatrial, atrioventricular or intraventricular block,
• organ transplant,
• diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2,
• morbid obesity (BMI > 40),
• chronic use of opioids and beta-blockers,
• known seizures,
• severe mental impairment,
• allergy to local anesthetics and to all the medications used in the study, or
• inability to understand pain assessment.