Optimal pain management for cesarean delivery

Erector spinae plane block versus transversus abdominis plane block for analgesia after cesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Peripheral abdominal nerve blocks are key components of multimodal analgesia, enhancing recovery after cesarean sections. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess analgesic efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAPB) under ultrasound guidance following Cesarean Section (CS) under spinal anesthesia.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science to identify relevant trials. The inclusion criteria followed the PICOS framework: Population (women undergoing elective cesarean delivery), Intervention (ESPB), Comparator (TAPB), Outcomes (postoperative pain, opioid consumption, analgesic duration, and satisfaction), and Study Design (randomized controlled trials).

RESULTS

Seven RCTs (380-patients) met the inclusion criteria. The ESPB group had significantly lower postoperative pain scores at rest and during movement, reduced 24-hour opioid consumption (MD = -2.62 MME; 95% CI -4.11 to -1.13; p = 0.006), and longer analgesic duration (SMD = 1.77; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.44; p < 0.001) than the TAPB group. Patient satisfaction was also significantly higher in the ESPB group (OR = 4.75; 95% CI 2.26 to 9.99; p < 0.001). While most outcomes demonstrated low heterogeneity, significant variability was observed in analgesic duration (I2 = 83%), requiring cautious interpretation.

CONCLUSIONS

The ESP block offers superior pain relief, reduces opioid use, and enhances satisfaction compared to the TAP block in cesarean sections. These findings suggest that the implementation of the ESP block in postoperative analgesia protocols could significantly improve patient outcomes, potentially leading to enhanced recovery and reduced reliance on opioids.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Pathways and Obstetric Anesthesia: A Bibliometric Analysis

As enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways are being used exceedingly all over the world, research on ERAS and obstetric anesthesia is expanding. The necessity for uniform guidelines is highlighted by the notable regional and institutional differences in ERAS pathway implementation. Bibliometric research can identify these differences, which promotes a more consistent use of evidence-based procedures. The present bibliographic analysis reviewed 866 documents from the Scopus database using the keywords "enhanced recovery after surgery, ERAS, and Obstetrics Anesthesia." An increased number of articles were added to the database from 2017, with 175 articles in 2024. VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20, Leiden University, Netherlands) was used to investigate the various aspects of bibliometric analysis. The five aspects that were analyzed were co-authorship, co-occurrence, citation, bibliographic coupling, and co-citation. The United States of America had the maximum number of articles, citations, organizations, co-authorship, and co-citation with other authors, organizations, and countries. In the citations category, Gustafsson had the maximum number of citations in documents, and Anesthesia and Analgesia had the maximum number of citations in a journal. A thorough summary of the development of the field of ERAS in obstetric anesthesia can be found in this bibliometric analysis. This analysis has identified important research contributions, significant authors, and new trends by looking at publications, citations, and collaborations. Future research, policymaking, and clinical practice could benefit greatly from this information.

Influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain intensity and functional activities following lower segment cesarean section

BACKGROUND

Postoperative incisional pain following lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) is one of the commonly reported complaints which may affect mother-infant bonding, and restrict mobility and functional activities.

PURPOSE

To study the influence of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on pain intensity and functional activities using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) following LSCS from the postoperative day (POD) 1 to POD 4.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study consisted of 50 postpartum women who underwent LSCS and were assigned to an intervention group (IG) that received TENS and a control group (CG) that received routine hospital care.

RESULTS

NPRS scores between CG and IG (pre-TENS application) showed a statistically significant difference (ηp2 = 0.542, p < .001) from POD 1 to POD 4. Study participants showed an improvement in PSFS scores (ηp2 = 0.412, 0.488, 0.661, 0.304, 0.262, and 0.395, p < .001) in IG compared to CG for bed transitions, bed transfers, sitting, sit to stand, walking, and toileting activities respectively from POD 1 to POD 4 which was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results suggest that administration of TENS following LSCS shows an improvement in pain intensity and functional activities as reported on NPRS and PSFS respectively.

Manejo del dolor postoperatorio de cesárea: Estudio Observacional en el Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal 2021

Objetivo. Describir los esquemas y efectividad del tratamiento del dolor postoperatorio en el Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal. Materiales y Métodos. Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de corte transversal, en el que se revisaron y analizaron 305 historias clínicas de pacientes atendidas entre enero y marzo del 2021, se recolectaron datos como los esquemas de tratamiento, frecuencia del dolor, manejo analgésico, rescates, uso de opioides, y efectos adversos. Resultados. De las 303 historias clínicas incluidas en el estudio el esquema de tratamiento más usado fue morfina intratecal en combinación de un a analgésico vía endovenosa (93.1%) el cual se inició en sala de operaciones, los efectos adversos más frecuentes fueron náuseas y vómitos (4.3%), prurito (1.3%), retención urinaria (0.3%). No se reportó, depresión respiratoria ni presencia de dolor severo; pero si hubo la necesidad de uso de rescate analgésico en un 20% de pacientes en el servicio de recuperación. Conclusiones. El esquema analgésico más usado para el dolor post operatorio fue morfina intratecal en combinación con un analgésico vía endovenosa (93.1%), y este esquema se inició durante la cirugía (98.7%). La analgesia multimodal incluyendo morfina neuroaxial aunado a analgésicos endovenosos tuvo menor incidencia del uso de medicamentos de rescate para controlar el dolor postoperatorio irruptivo secundario a cesárea en la muestra estudiada

Randomized trial of transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine after cesarean delivery with or without intrathecal morphine

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate efficacy and safety of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with or without intrathecal morphine (ITM) compared with ITM alone for postsurgical analgesia after cesarean delivery (CD).

DESIGN

Multicenter, open-label, randomized trial (NCT03853694).

SETTING

Operating room.

PATIENTS

Women with term pregnancy of 37 to 42 weeks scheduled for elective CD under spinal anesthesia.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to LB 266 mg TAP block alone (LB group), ITM 50 μg followed by LB 266 mg TAP block (LB + ITM group), or ITM 150 μg alone (ITM group). All groups received the same postsurgical multimodal analgesic regimen.

MEASUREMENTS

The LB and LB + ITM groups were compared with the ITM group for all efficacy outcomes. Postsurgical opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) through 72 h was compared by assessing noninferiority before testing superiority. Postsurgical pruritus severity was assessed on an 11-point numerical rating scale.

MAIN RESULTS

Between March 4, 2019, and January 10, 2020, 153 patients (LB, n = 52; LB + ITM, n = 48; ITM, n = 53) were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were comparable across groups. The LB group had statistically noninferior postsurgical opioid consumption through 72 h compared with the ITM group (least squares mean [LSM], 19.2 vs 16.4 MMEs; LSM treatment ratio, 1.17 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-1.86]; noninferiority P < 0.0034) as did the LB + ITM group (LSM, 14.6 vs 16.4 MMEs; LSM treatment ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.55-1.44]; noninferiority P < 0.0001). The LB and LB + ITM groups had significantly reduced pruritus severity scores through 12, 24, 48, and 72 h compared with the ITM group (P ≤ 0.0121). Adverse events occurred in 58%, 85%, and 81% of the LB, LB + ITM, and ITM groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

LB TAP block with or without ITM resulted in statistically noninferior postsurgical opioid consumption through 72 h, reduced pruritus, and favorable safety compared with ITM in women undergoing CD.