title: A randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in laparoscopic colorectal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optimal analgesia following laparoscopic colorectal resection is yet to be determined; however, recent studies have questioned the role of postoperative epidural anaesthesia, suggesting other analgesic modalities may be preferable. The aim of this randomised controlled trial was to assess the effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks on opioid requirements in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  After appropriate trial registration ( www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT 00830089) and local medical ethics review board approval (REC 09/H0407/10), all adult patients who were to undergo laparoscopic colorectal surgery at a single centre were randomised into the intervention group receiving bilateral TAP blocks or the control group (no TAP block). The blocks were administered prior to surgery after the induction of a standardised anaesthetic by an anaesthetist otherwise uninvolved with the case. The patient, theatre anaesthetist, surgeon, and ward staff were blinded to treatment allocation. All patients received postoperative analgesia of paracetamol and morphine as a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Cumulative opioid consumption and pain scores were recorded at 2, 4, 6, and 24 h postoperatively and compared between the groups as were clinical outcomes and length of stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention (TAP block) group (n = 33) and the control group (n = 35) were comparable with respect to characteristics, specimen pathology, and type of procedure. The TAP block group's median cumulative morphine usage (40 mg [IQR = 25-63]) was significantly less than that of the control group (60 mg [IQR = 39-81]). Pain scores and median length of stay (LOS) were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative TAP blocks in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal resection reduced opioid use in the first postoperative day in this study.
authors: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Derby Road, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. katie.walter@rocketmail.com
authors: Catherine J
authors: CJ
authors: Walter
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Maxwell-Armstrong
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Pinkney
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Conaghan
authors: Nigel
authors: N
authors: Bedforth
authors: Christopher B
authors: CB
authors: Gornall
authors: Austin G
authors: AG
authors: Acheson
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000294:innervation; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000294:innervation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine
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