Impact of Bilateral Subcostal Plus Lateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Quality of Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Combining Transversus Abdominis Plane and Rectus Sheath Blocks in Open Inguinal Hernia Surgery Anesthesia: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

BACKGROUND

Lichtenstein hernia repair is a common surgical procedure. Previously, combined rectus sheath (RS) and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks have been shown to be beneficial in laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery. Our hypothesis is that combining the two blocks will also be beneficial in open Lichtenstein hernioplasty day-case procedures.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed data from 186 patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery chosen using the propensity score matching. Primary endpoint was intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption. Secondary endpoints were conversion of the anesthetic method, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), unscheduled hospitalization or emergency room visits, perioperative duration, analysis of the patient flow, and surgical complications.

RESULTS

Ninety-three patients treated with the blocks (study group) and 93 controls were analyzed. The study group had significantly lower opioid use in the operating room (2.5-7.5 mg vs. 5.0-7.5 mg and p < 0.01) and in the recovery room (0.0-2.0 mg vs. 1.0-10.6 mg and p < 0.0001). There was no difference in postoperative recovery room times nor in the patient flow. Postoperative hospitalization due to pain was 9.1% in the control group, whereas no patients in the study group were hospitalized (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

RS and TAP blocks reduce postoperative pain in inguinal hernia surgery, resulting in significantly lower postoperative opioid use and hospitalization rates. The blocks are technically easy and quick to perform and should be considered for pain management in inguinal hernia day-case surgery.

Effect of General Anesthesia Combined with Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Postoperative Sleep Disorders in Elderly Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Tumor Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of general anesthesia combined with transversus abdominis plane block on postoperative sleep disorders in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor surgery.

Methods

For elderly patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumors, we recruited 94 patients, aged 65-80, who were scheduled for radical laparoscopic surgery. Using the random number table method, the patients were randomly divided into two groups, the general anesthesia group (group GA) and the general anesthesia combined with transversus abdominis plane block group (group GT). The group GA received the sedation-aspiration complex general anesthesia regimen, while the group GT underwent bilateral transversus abdominis plane blocks (TAPB) after the same induction of anesthesia. Group GA was injected bilaterally with equal amounts of saline in the same way. Sleep was monitored using wearable devices on the first day before surgery (P1) and the first and third day after surgery (D1 and D3). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) scale was used to assess sleepiness and the occurrence of postoperative sleep disorders (POSD) on P1, D1 and D3 nights, respectively.

Results

Compared to the group GA, the group GT showed a significant decrease in remifentanil use during surgery (P<0.05). At D1, the group GT showed an increase in the ratio of deep sleep to rapid eye movement sleep (REM), along with a significant decrease in the number of wakefulness (P<0.05). At D3, the proportion of REM continued to increase and PSQI scores were significantly lower at both D1 and D3 (P<0.05). In addition, the incidence of POSD and the visual analog scores (VAS) at 0.5h and 6h postoperative activity in D1 showed a decreasing trend (P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in general condition, intraoperative condition, remedial analgesia and number of analgesic pump presses (P>0.05).

Conclusion

General anesthesia combined with transversus abdominis plane block reduces the dosage of opioids in abdominal surgery, especially gastrointestinal surgery, alleviates postoperative pain in elderly gastrointestinal oncology patients, improves sleep quality, and reduces the incidence of sleep disorders.

The Effect of Postoperative Analgesia on the Day-Case Rate of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomised Pilot Study of the Laparoscopic-Assisted Right Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block plus Local Anaesthetic Wound Infiltration versus Local Anaesthetic Wound Infiltration only

OBJECTIVE

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and local anaesthetic infiltration (LAI) of port sites provide adequate analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Little is known if the two techniques affect the day-case (DC) rate of LC. We tested the appropriateness of the research design in view of a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT) - laparoscopic-assisted right subcostal TAP block plus local anaesthetic wound infiltration (STALA) versus LAI.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sixty patients having DC LC were randomised into STALA and LAI. Participants received bupivacaine 0.5% 30 mL. Pain scores were evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, at 1 h post-surgery and at discharge. Need of postoperative intravenous (IV) opioids, DC rate, and Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaires were compared between groups and were considered as measures of efficacy of the interventions and follow-up in a definitive trial.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine participants were randomised to STALA, and 31 to LAI. Subjects in LAI group were all women (p = 0.0007) and younger (43.8 vs. 37.7 years, p = 0.023). Median VAS scores were 0 versus 1 at 1 h (p = 0.60), 0 versus 1.5 at discharge (p = 0.55). The need of IV opioids was 15/29 (51.7%) versus 13/31 (41.9%; p = 0.60). The DC rate was 93.1% versus 93.5% (p = 0.39). Fifty (83.3%) participants responded the questionnaires.

CONCLUSIONS

The laparoscopically guided right subcostal TAP block provided no additional benefit to LAI on pain control after LC and DC rate. Despite the appropriate design, our findings do not support a larger RCT.

Analgesic benefits of pre-operative versus postoperative transversus abdominis plane block for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a frequentist network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been utilized to alleviate pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). However, the optimal timing of administration remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of pre-operative and postoperative TAP blocks as analgesic options after LC.

METHODS

A frequentist network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted. We systematically searched PubMed (via the National Library of Medicine), EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science up to March 2023. The study included RCTs that enrolled adult patients (≥ 18 years) who underwent LC and received either pre-operative or postoperative TAP blocks. The primary outcome assessed was 24-hour postoperative morphine consumption (mg). Additionally, pain rest scores within 3 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours, as well as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), were considered as pre-specified secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 34 trials with 2317 patients were included in the analysis. Postoperative TAP block demonstrated superiority over the pre-operative TAP block in reducing opioid consumption (MD 2.02, 95% CI 0.87 to 3.18, I2 98.6%, p < 0.001). However, with regards to postoperative pain, neither pre-operative nor postoperative TAP blocks exhibited superiority over each other at any of the assessed time points. The postoperative TAP block consistently ranked as the best intervention using SUCRA analysis. Moreover, the postoperative TAP block led to the most significant reduction in PONV.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the postoperative TAP block may be slightly more effective in reducing 24-hour postoperative opioid consumption and PONV when compared to the pre-operative TAP block.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO, CRD42023396880 .

The Effect of Various Combinations of Peripheral Nerve Blocks on Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Comparative Prospective Study

Objectives

Most patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) experience moderate to severe pain in the first 24 hours after surgery. The transversus abdominal plane (TAP) is currently used for post-LC analgesia. Posterior, subcostal, or rectus sheath TAP blocks are the conventional approaches used. The aim of the current study was to compare the efficacy of combinations of various peripheral blocks on pain intensity and the use of pain killers, shortly after LC.

Methods

This was a prospective, double-blind study, in which 200 patients who were about to undergo a LC procedure were recruited and randomized into 4 groups: patients receiving one of the following: TAP block alone, subcostal Tap block alone, subcostal TAP block with a TAP block, or subcostal TAP with a rectus sheath block. The intensity of pain (VAS score) and the use of painkillers were monitored in the recovery unit and in the department for up to 24 hours after surgery.

Results

Pain levels decreased with time from 3.6 ± 3.2 at 30 minutes to 0.9 ± 2.0 at 24 hours after the surgery. Nevertheless, no difference between the various block types groups was noted. The percentage of patients who consumed analgesic medications decreased over time, from 83% at 30 to 21% at 24 hours after surgery. The mean/median number of medications consumed by each of the patients was lower among the patients who received a combination of 2 blocks compared to those who received a single one (mean/median of 2.7/3 and 2.8/3 for the TAP or subcostal TAP blocks, respectively; 2.5/2 and 2.3/2 for the subcostal TAP + TAP or subcostal TAP + rectus sheath blocks, respectively).

Conclusion

A combination of peripheral nerve blocks reduced the use of analgesic consumption during the 24 hours after LC surgery, compared to standalone blocks.

Transversus Abdominis Plane Block as a Strategy for Effective Pain Management in Patients with Pain during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), unlike laparotomy, is an invasive surgical procedure, and some patients report mild to moderate pain after surgery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been shown to be an appropriate method for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. However, there have been few studies on the efficacy of TAP block after LC surgery, with unclear information on the optimal dose, long-term effects, and clinical significance, and the analgesic efficacy of various procedures, hence the need for this review. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Academic Search Premier, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library) were searched for eligible studies published from inception to the present. Post-mean and standard deviation values for pain assessed were extracted, and mean changes per group were calculated. Clinical significance was determined using the distribution-based approach. Four different local anesthetics (Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine, Lidocaine, and Levobupivacaine) were used at varying concentrations from 0.2% to 0.375%. Ten different drug solutions (i.e., esmolol, Dexamethasone, Magnesium Sulfate, Ketorolac, Oxycodone, Epinephrine, Sufentanil, Tropisetron, normal saline, and Dexmedetomidine) were used as adjuvants. The optimal dose of local anesthetics for LC could be 20 mL with 0.4 mL/kg for port infiltration. Various TAP procedures such as ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (US-TAP) block and other strategies have been shown to be used for pain management in LC; however, TAP blockade procedures were reported to be the most effective method for analgesia compared with general anesthesia and port infiltration. Instead of 0.25% Bupivacaine, 1% Pethidine could be used for the TAP block procedures. Multimodal analgesia could be another strategy for pain management. Analgesia with TAP blockade decreases opioid consumption significantly and provides effective analgesia. Further studies should identify the long-term effects of different TAP block procedures.

Ultrasound-guided bilateral modified-thoracoabdominal nerve block through a perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized double-blind controlled trial

Background

Modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) is a new technique that provides effective analgesia of the anterior and lateral thoracoabdominal walls by administering local anesthesia only to the underside of the perichondral surface. The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of M-TAPA block performed before surgery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Method

The present study was designed as a double-blind, randomized, controlled, prospective study. A total of 68 patients were included in the study. In group M-TAPA, M-TAPA block was performed bilaterally after the induction of general anesthesia. No block was performed on the group control. The postoperative pain scores, analgesic use in the first 24 h, antiemetic consumption, sedation, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) scores were recorded.

Results

Pain scores were significantly lower in group M-TAPA than in the group control, both during resting and motion at all times (p < 0.001 at each time point). The total amount of tramadol consumed in the first 24 h was lower in group M-TAPA [median 100 mg, min-max (0-200)] than in the group control (P < 0.001). Postoperative median QoR-40 scores were higher in group M-TAPA compared with the group control (P < 0.001). There were no differences between the groups in terms of other results.

Conclusion

After the LC surgery, ultrasound-guided M-TAPA block reduced postoperative pain scores and tramadol consumption effectively. It was observed that the quality of recovery was also higher because QoR-40 scores were higher.