Effects of Melatonin on Sleep after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Effects of Melatonin on Sleep after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: We set out to investigate whether administration of an oral dose of 5 mg melatonin in the evenings after laparoscopic cholecystectomy could reduce sleep disturbances measured by actigraphy. Methods: We performed a double-blinded, placebo-control, randomised clinical trial where 54 patients received 5 mg melatonin or placebo approximately 30 minutes before bedtime three nights postoperatively. Participants were monitored with actigraphy two nights preoperatively and three nights postoperatively. Likewise sleep, pain, general wellbeing, and fatigue were measured via visual analogue scales. Results: Melatonin administration in the postoperative period did not affect any of the objectively determined sleep parameters compared with placebo. No group difference was observed during the night time or daytime even though the overall sleep was disturbed postoperatively. Melatonin intervention did not result in improvements in the subjective parameters. Conclusions: We did not show an effect of 5 mg melatonin administration on sleep after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.