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Cervical spine injury in the elderly does not inevitably relegate patients to a setting of more acute nursing care. The health and social factors that allowed many to return to living at home warrant investigation, as support of these factors may assist others with this injury.

Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs), when combined with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, have been proven to reduce the length of stay (LOS) and improve quality outcomes. Nonopioid pain management is an essential component of this pathway, leading to a reduction in immobility, postoperative ileus, and an increase in patient satisfaction. TAP block variations have been studied in general and gynecologic surgery. This study evaluates the effectiveness of laparoscopic TAP blocks in conjunction with the benefit of an ERP. One hundred thirty-seven consecutive laparoscopic and robotic-assisted Colorectal Surgery patients received TAP blocks under laparoscopic guidance while under anesthesia, randomized to a placebo, bupivacaine TAP block, or bupivacaine TAP block with an ERP arm of the trial. Patient demographics, operative techniques, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using statistical analysis software. Our main objective was to determine short-term benefits of TAP blocks on reducing total narcotic consumption. Secondary objectives included effects of TAP blocks on time to ambulation, time to bowel function, and LOS. To isolate the effect of the TAP blocks, no efforts were made to control nursing or patient education in patients managed without an ERP. Of 137 patients, 14 were withdrawn. All cases were elective, with the main diagnosis colon cancer or dysplastic polyps (47.1%). The median age in each group was comparable ( P = 0.12), with female majority in both groups (58.5%). Most procedures were segmental colon resections (74.7%). Thirty-one patients received a placebo, 41 bupivacaine TAP, and 51 bupivacaine TAP plus ERP. In terms of primary endpoints, the bupivacaine plus ERP arm used statistically significant less IV narcotics on postoperative day 1 and in total ( P = 0.001, P = 0.008). All patients ambulated on average within the first 24 hours postoperatively, with the TAP plus ERP group approximately 0.5 days sooner ( P = 0.001). The TAP plus ERP group also had a return of bowel function and LOS approximately 24 hours early ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.001). This study shows that a laparoscopically placed bupivacaine TAP block when used as part of an ERP can reduce LOS, postoperative narcotics, time to ambulation and bowel function, and LOS. Defined pain regimens with auxiliary staff teaching can add to the improvement in quality outcomes in laparoscopic colorectal surgery and, with the addition of the TAP block, can add to patient satisfaction and lower hospital costs.

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks are a safe and effective way to provide immediate postoperative pain relief in surgical patients, and have been shown to decrease narcotic requirements. Concerns about complications of narcotics, increase in hospital length of stay (LOS), and health-care costs make this of particular interest. We compared standard bupivacaine TAP blocks with those carried out using liposomal bupivacaine to evaluate postoperative outcomes. Fifty patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colectomy received laparoscopic liposomal bupivacaine TAP blocks using 80 cc of local anesthetic, and data were collected prospectively during hospitalization. Data collected included amount of narcotic medication used during hospitalization, number of days to ambulation, number of days to bowel function, and LOS. These patients were compared with the last 50 patients recruited to the control/bupivacaine TAP block arm of the study. The same data parameters were collected and all patients were on an enhanced recovery protocol, which included scheduled acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and gabapentin by mouth, as well as clear liquid diet starting on postoperative day zero. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test and Fisher's exact test; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Patients treated with liposomal bupivacaine needed less narcotics (5.06 vs 18.75 mg, P = 0.0002), had earlier bowel function (1.7 vs 2.4 days, P = 0.0002), and shorter LOS (2.7 vs 3.4 days, P = 0.0146). Patients undergoing laparoscopic colon resections seem to require fewer narcotics and have better patient outcomes with liposomal bupivacaine TAP blocks. Based on our data, liposomal bupivacaine seems to be superior to bupivacaine for TAP blocks.