The Beneficial Effect of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Day-Case Surgery

Abstract

TAP block after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may have some beneficial effect in reducing pain while coughing and on opioid requirements, but this effect is probably rather small.

Transversus abdominis plane block after Caesarean section in an area with limited resources

“…7,8,12 Most reports showed the effectiveness of TAP blocks by looking at reduced postoperative opioid requirement, lower pain scores and reduction in opioid-related side effects. Jankovic reviewed the development of TAP block within 10 years, considering both landmark technique and ultrasound-guided technique.…”

“…Therefore, the sample size determination in this study was based on the VAS scores from a previous study conducted in Denmark. 8 We considered a 30% reduction in VAS pain scores in TAP block to be clinically relevant. With a type I error of 0.05 and a type II error of 0.20, sample size calculation determined that 98 patients would be needed in the study.…”

Comparison of analgesic efficacy of oblique subcostal and lateral transversus abdominis plane block after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

“…The most cephalad dermatomal and sensory block spreads of subcostal and posterior TAP blocks were to T8 and T10 respectively [20]. Therefore, subcostal TAP block seems to be more effective than posterior TAP block for laparoscopic cholecystectomy because port site incisions are performed above the umbilicus, and thus, are innervated by nerves from T6 to L1 at the neurovascular plane of the abdominal wall [4,5].…”

“…TAP blocks can be performed using several approaches, such as, the subcostal, lateral, and conventional posterior approaches [3]. These blocks are performed by injecting local anesthetic into the neurovascular plane of the abdominal wall, which is innervated by nerves from T6 to L1 [4,5].…”

“…During laparoscopic cholecystectomy these sites are innervated by nerves from T6 to L1 at the neurovascular plane of the abdominal wall [4,5], and thus, it might be expected that TAP blocks would be useful for controlling pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.…”