Comparison of Therapeutic Benefit of Bupivacaine HCl Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block as Part of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway versus Traditional Oral and Intravenous Pain Control after Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

Abstract

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 Of 137 patients, 14 were withdrawn.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.

State-of-the-art colorectal disease: postoperative ileus

“…As this technique is relatively new and was first introduced in 2001 [64], data regarding POI are sparse. There are results demonstrating reduced length of stay and opioid consumption as well as improved bowel function compared to traditional regimes after MIS [32]. Not many studies have compared TAP block to epidural catheters.…”

Deep Learning in Laparoscopic Colorectal Carcinoma Surgery under Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…In the above equation, uq(•) refers to the sampling operation in the previous step, and the gradient of the given feature graph was calculated. After the calculation of the weight was completed, according to bias gradient equation (6) in the BP algorithm, the bias gradient of each feature map in layer l was calculated.…”

“…erefore, it is very important to construct the surgical plane of the intestinal fascial space before surgery. e tumor and its mesangial membrane can be completely removed by following this surgical plane, and the adjacent organs, blood vessels, and autonomic nerve plexus in the pelvic cavity can be avoided as much as possible [6]. Shinohara et al [7] studied and analyzed embryological and anatomical theories similar to TME in 2009 and published the concept and technique of complete mesocolic excision (CME).…”

Analgesic Efficacy of Preemptive Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

“…TAP block improves postoperative pain in several abdominal surgeries, including colectomy, nephrectomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, and hernia repair [8,11,[13][14][15]. Damadi and colleagues [16] reported that the combined use of TAP block and the ERAS pathway reduced the use of postoperative narcotics, time to ambulation and bowel function, and hospital stay length in laparoscopic colorectal surgeries. However, various TAP block protocols (with varying local anesthetic volume and concentration, as well as adjuvant agent use), approach methods (lateral, posterior, or subcostal), injection times, continuous infusion uses, and surgery types have varying effects [8,14,16,17].…”

“…Damadi and colleagues [16] reported that the combined use of TAP block and the ERAS pathway reduced the use of postoperative narcotics, time to ambulation and bowel function, and hospital stay length in laparoscopic colorectal surgeries. However, various TAP block protocols (with varying local anesthetic volume and concentration, as well as adjuvant agent use), approach methods (lateral, posterior, or subcostal), injection times, continuous infusion uses, and surgery types have varying effects [8,14,16,17]. TAP block has been reported to predominantly and acutely inhibit somatic pain [18,19].…”