Efficacy of transverse abdominis plane block in reduction of postoperation pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a recently introduced regional anesthesia technique that is used for postoperative pain reduction in some abdominal surgeries. The present study evaluated the efficacy of the TAP block on the post laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain intensity and analgesic consumption.



Fifty-four patients were enrolled in three groups: TAP block with normal saline (Group 1, n = 18); TAP block with bupivacaine (Group 2, n = 18); and TAP block with bupivacaine plus sufentanil (Group 3, n = 18). The time to the first fentanyl request, fentanyl consumption in the 24 hours following surgery, and postoperative pain intensity at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours following discharge for recovery were measured and recorded.



The total amount of 24-hour fentanyl consumption was higher in Group 1 (877.8 ± 338.8 μg) than either Group 2 (566.7 ± 367.8 μg) or Group 3 (555.5 ± 356.8 μg; p = 0.03). Postoperative pain score was higher in Group 1 than intervention groups (p = 0.006); however, there was no significant difference in intervention groups. The time to the first fentanyl request in Group 1 (79.44 ± 42.2) was significantly lower than Group 3 (206.38 ± 112.7; p = 0.001).



The present study demonstrated that bilateral TAP block with 0.5% bupivacaine reduces post laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain intensity and fentanyl request and prolongs time to the first analgesic request. Adding sufentanil to the block solution reduced neither pain intensity nor fentanyl further consumption.
Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Alireza
A
Saliminia
Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Omid
O
Azimaraghi
Research Development Center, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shiva
S
Babayipour
Department of Cardiology, Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Kamelia
K
Ardavan
Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Dr. Ali Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: movafegh@sina.tums.ac.ir.
Ali
A
Movafegh
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D000328:Adult; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine
multimodal analgesic technique; postoperative pain; transversus abdominis plane