Introduction: Ultrasound guided total abdominal block (US-TAP) is a new and effective technique for decreasing post operative pain after abdominal surgeries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of ultra-sound guided transversus abdominis plane block for effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery via a transverse lower abdominal skin incision.
Methods: This randomized control trial study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi for a period of 6 months from July 2014 to Dec 2014. 200 female patients undergoing gynecological surgery via transverse lower abdominal skin incision were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups by using consecutive non-probability sampling; both received ultra-sound guided transversus abdominis plane block with either bupivacaine (Group A) or saline(Group B).Comparison of early mean post operative pain relief was assessed with ultra-sound guided transversus abdominis plane block with or without bupivacaine. SPSS version 17.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The mean age of patients was 41 years (range 17–71).There were 100 patients in each group. The two groups were comparable with respect to baseline features. The US-TAP block significantly reduced pain intensity as compared to standard care in the PACU at 4 h (5.2 ± 3.1 vs. 8.4 ± 1.3, p = 0.003). There was insignificant difference between the visual assessment score of pain at 8 h between the two study groups (3.6 ± 2.3 vs. 2.3 ± 2.4, p = 0.4).
Conclusion: Ultra-sound guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) is an effective modality for reducing post operative pain after gynecologic surgery via a transverse lower abdominal skin incision.
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© 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.
