A prospective, randomised controlled research evaluating the efficacy of ultrasound-guided TAP block in alleviating postoperative pain in abdominal surgery
Author(s):
Buragadda Aparna and Venkata Subba Reddy
Abstract:
Introduction and Background: To improve patient outcomes and reduce opioid use, multimodal analgesia is essential for managing postoperative pain in abdominal surgeries, representing a significant therapeutic challenge. This research evaluates the efficacy of traditional analgesic methods versus ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks in alleviating postoperative pain in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries. Materials and Methods: In this randomised controlled trial, 120 adults who were going to have elective abdominal surgeries under general anaesthesia were included. The study took place at Department of Anaesthesia, Dr. Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Chinna Avutapalle, Andhra Pradesh, India, between April 2011 and March 2012. There were two groups of sixty patients each: those who received the TAP block (N=60) and those who received no intervention (N=60). The postoperative procedure for the TAP block group involved an ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine administered on both sides.Results: At every time point, the TAP block group's VAS scores were noticeably lower than the control group's. The TAP block group dramatically reduced total opioid use in the first 24 hours compared to the control group. In comparison to the control group, those in the TAP block group had a significantly longer time (median: 8 hours) before they needed to obtain analgesics. The TAP block group reported more satisfied patients than the control group. We did not detect any significant problems associated with the TAP block. Conclusion: An effective and safe method for managing postoperative pain in abdominal procedures is the ultrasound-guided TAP block. When compared to conventional analgesic procedures, it considerably lessens pain, decreases narcotic usage, and increases patient satisfaction. When planning pain relief for abdominal surgeries, this method should be considered among other options.
How to cite this article:
Buragadda Aparna, Venkata Subba Reddy. A prospective, randomised controlled research evaluating the efficacy of ultrasound-guided TAP block in alleviating postoperative pain in abdominal surgery. Pharma Innovation 2012;1(2):98-103.