title: Comparison between the analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and placebo in open retropubic radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided tansversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with placebo for postoperative analgesia after retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary-care Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  ASA physical status 1, 2, and 3 patients scheduled for RRP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to two groups: the TAP group and the control group. All patients underwent an ultrasound-guided TAP block procedure after induction of general anesthesia and received either local anesthetic (TAP group) or normal saline (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Opioid use and verbal analog pain scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery were recorded, as was the frequency of side effects. Times to ambulation and first oral intake also were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TAP block group had lower pain scores and required less total opioid in the first 24 hours after surgery. Time to first oral intake and time to ambulation were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TAP block has early benefits in postoperative analgesia after RRP.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: nabil.elkassabany@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors: Nabil
authors: N
authors: Elkassabany
authors: Moustafa
authors: M
authors: Ahmed
authors: S Bruce
authors: SB
authors: Malkowicz
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: Heitjan
authors: Joshua A
authors: JA
authors: Isserman
authors: E Andrew
authors: EA
authors: Ochroch
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D009020:Morphine
keywords: Patient-controlled analgesia; Peripheral nerve block; Postoperative analgesia; Regional anesthesia; Retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP); Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block; Urological surgery