Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided TAP Block Effects Before and After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery on Postoperative Pain Reduction: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Nafiseh  Faghani; Alieh Zamani Kiasari; Goli Aezzi Pashakollaei; Ramin Rouhani; Farshad Hassanzadeh  Kiabi; Negar Shirvani Ghadikolaee; Keihan Shabankhani

doi:10.18502/aacc.v12i1.20534

Nafiseh Faghani Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Alieh Zamani Kiasari Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Goli Aezzi Pashakollaei Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Ramin Rouhani Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Farshad Hassanzadeh Kiabi Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Negar Shirvani Ghadikolaee Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Keihan Shabankhani Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aacc.v12i1.20534

Keywords: Transversus abdominis plane block; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Pain

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study is to compare the effects of the TAP (transversus abdominis plane) block, guided by ultrasound, before the commencement of surgery and after its completion, on reducing postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: The present study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The study population included patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, Mazandaran, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: TAP block before the operation and after the operation. The pain intensity and consciousness level at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-surgery, as well as the time of the first analgesic request, time of first pain expression after surgery, and the amount of morphine consumption within 24 hours for each patient, were documented.

Results: 120 patients were included in this study; 60 of them were in the pre-op group and 60 in the post-op group. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of duration of surgery and total morphine consumed between the study groups. The time of the first analgesic request and the time of the first pain expression were significantly longer in the post-op group. Pain intensity was significantly lower in the post-op group.

Conclusion: Bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP block after surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy leads to a reduction in pain intensity and incidence of vomiting and an increase in the time of analgesic request and pain expression after surgery.