title: Comparison of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block with bupivacaine and ropivacaine as adjuncts for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a popular technique for post-operative analgesia in abdominal surgeries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relative efficacy of bupivacaine versus ropivacaine for post-operative analgesia using ultrasound-guided TAP block in laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty adults undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomised to receive ultrasound-guided TAP block at the end of the surgical procedure with either 0.25% bupivacaine (Group I, n = 30) or 0.375% ropivacaine (Group II, n = 30). All patients were assessed for post-operative pain and rescue analgesic consumption at 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h time points. Means for normally distributed data were compared using Student's t-test, and proportions were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test whichever was applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients receiving ultrasound-guided TAP block with ropivacaine (Group II) had significantly lower pain scores when compared to patients who received the block with bupivacaine (Group I) at 10 min, 30 min and 1 h. However, both the drugs were equivalent for post-operative analgesia and 24 h cumulative rescue analgesic requirement (median [interquartile range]) (75.00 [75.00-75.00] in Group I vs. 75.00 [75.00-93.75] in Group II, P = 0.366).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided TAP block with ropivacaine provides effective analgesia in the immediate post-operative period up to 1 h as compared to bupivacaine. However, both the drugs are similar in terms of 24 h cumulative rescue analgesic requirement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Shradha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palta
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saroa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radio Diagnosis, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prasad
keywords: Bupivacaine; ropivacaine; transversus abdominis plane block