Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder via 'keyhole surgery') is a common procedure. This can be performed as an emergency operation when a patient has a complication of gall stones such as acute inflammation or pancreatitis. There are several trials which demonstrate that placing local anaesthetic inside the abdomen at the site of gall bladder surgery during a planned elective operation decreases post operative pain. This is the first trial to investigate the efficacy of this local anaesthetic during emergency cholecystectomy.