Early Recovery Following Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (Tap) in Abdominal Contouring Surgeries

Abstract

Background:The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a well-known regional nerve block that is used for the pain control after various inguinal andabdominal surgeries. The most effective and well known method of administering the TAP block is under ultrasound guidance.Till now only few studies have evaluated analgesic efficacy of TAP block in Abdominoplastysurgical procedure, in which post-operative pain is a major concern for both surgeon as well for the patient. Objectives:We conducted retrospective cohort study to assess efficacy of ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block, in controlling post-operative pain in abdominoplasty patients. Methods:Sixty Patients who had undergone Lipoabdominoplasty procedurewere studied retrospectively. The patients who had received TAP block were assigned as groups A and those patients who had not received any TAP block were assigned as group B, with thirty Patients in each group.The patients in two groups were compared for their demographic characteristics, pain intensity on mobilization, time to first rescue analgesic dose (visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 5 or on demand), opioid consumptionand incidence of nausea-vomitingepisodes during first post-operative 24 hours. Results:The patients in two groups were similar in demographic characteristics. Patients in group A (TAP block group) had required significantly smaller mean dose of postoperative opioids (Group A: 5mg Group B: 75 mg P = <0.000) and hadsignificantly longer mean time of first request for analgesic medication (Group A: 8 hours 11 minutes Group B: 1 hours 20 minutes P = <0.000).Median VAS score on mobilization was significantly lower in Group A(group A: 1 Group B: 5).Only Three patients in group A as compared to 18 patients in group B had experienced nausea and vomiting in post-operative period. Conclusions:The ultrasound guided TAP block provide more effective analgesia after Lipoabdominoplasty, which allows more comfortable early post-operative mobilization, decreases opioid requirement as well as opioid related side-effects, Therefore ultrasound guided TAP block should be considered in most of lipoabdominoplasty patients for better patient experience and outcome.