Efficacy and Safety of Ibuprofen for Pain Resolution After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pain control in the post-operative period is one of the key factors of patient satisfaction and post-operative recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The efficacy and tolerability of intravenous ibuprofen as a general analgesic in post-operative care following this procedure should be evaluated. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The searches in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were performed through January 2026. In adults, patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were compared between those receiving intravenous ibuprofen and those receiving placebo/control interventions. The primary endpoints considered post-operative pain, whereas opioid consumption and negative outcomes were the secondary endpoints. Random-effects models were applied. Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 388 patients were included. Employing intravenous ibuprofen significantly reduced pain ratings at 1 h, 2 h, and 24 h after surgery. The ibuprofen group also had a significantly lower opioid consumption. The groups did not differ significantly in sedation rates. Nevertheless, ibuprofen was associated with a markedly lower rate of post-operative nausea and pruritus. There was a considerable heterogeneity in efficacy outcomes. Intravenous ibuprofen is a valuable and safe pain reliever following laparoscopic cholecystectomy and brings a great deal of pain reduction and opioid-sparing without augmenting adverse effects. Its inclusion in multimodal analgesic programs could be beneficial for postoperative recovery. This study aimed to identify whether the intravenous administration of ibuprofen is effective for treating post-operative pain in patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study evaluates secondary outcomes using the following three different measurements: the need for extra pain medication, the complete recovery process, and the rate of all adverse effects. The objective of this research was to offer a comprehensive assessment of the use of ibuprofen in the prevention and treatment of post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain, and to give recommendations for information-based interventions that will enhance patient care with regard to surgical operations.