Effect of Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Analgesia after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Transversus abdominal plane block is used in management of pain in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. This study aimed at investigating the effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block on postoperative pain control in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed in 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. General anesthesia was induced in all patients. At the end of the operation, a subcostal transverse abdominis plane (SCTAP) block was performed in the intervention group, while the control group received no intervention. In all samples, pain intensity based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the dose of opioid and anti-emetics drugs were assessed at recovery, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after the surgery. Data analysis was performed in SPSS 24 applying independent t-test and chi-square.

The number of patients with VAS<4 was significantly higher in intervention group compared with the control group at recovery (96.4%), 2 (96.4%), 4 (89.2%), and 8 (57.1%) hours after the surgery (P<0.05), but, data showed no significant difference between the intervention group and control group at 12 and 24 hours after surgery (P>0.05). Findings showed significant differences in mean opioid administration during 8 (4.4 ± 11.9) and 24 hours (38.3 ± 21) after surgery between the intervention group and the control group (P<0.001). The mean use of metoclopramide was not found to be significantly different between the two groups at 8 and 24 hours after surgery (P> 0.05).

Current study showed that ultrasound-guided SCTAP block could reduce postoperative pain and opioid administration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.