Evaluation of the Postoperative Analgesic Effect of 2 Different Blocks after Pediatric Circumcision Surgery

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Circumcision is a painful day-case surgery. Regional anesthesia techniques are used effectively for anesthesia and postoperative analgesia after pediatric circumcision surgery. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> Our prospective observational study aimed to compare postoperative analgesic efficiency of a dorsal penile nerve (DPN) block with a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block after male pediatric circumcision surgery and complications related to each block. <b><i>Study Design:</i></b> We enrolled 80 male children under the age of 10 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists I–II status scheduled for circumcision in this prospective observational study. A TAP or DPN block was performed after induction of general anesthesia before surgery with ultrasound (US) guidance. Postoperative pain was assessed with Faces Pain Scale-Revised and the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability scale. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding 30-min pain score levels (<i>p</i> > 0.05). But, the 1st hour, 2nd hour, 6th hour, 12th hour, and 24th-hour pain score levels in the TAP block group were statistically significantly higher than those of the DPN block group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The 1st rescue analgesic requirement in the TAP block group was at the 6th hour postoperative. There was no need for rescue analgesia in the DPN block group during the postoperative 24-h follow-up. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> A US-guided DPN block provided effective and long-lasting postoperative analgesia for circumcision surgery with statistically significantly lower pain score levels than a US-guided TAP block. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study found that a TAP block alone was insufficient to provide adequate postoperative analgesia for circumcision surgery compared to DPN block.