Objectives: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually given under ultrasound guidance. Laparoscopic-assisted TAP block has been suggested as an alternative to ultrasonogram (USG)-guided block as it is less time consuming and does not need extra equipments. This study was done to compare the efficacy of both the techniques.
Patients and methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial between October 2012 and June 2014 involving adult patients with symptomatic gall stone disease. Patients were randomly assigned to laparoscopic or ultrasound-guided TAP block. Both groups were compared for amount of opioid consumption, postoperative pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting, bowel movements, peak expiratory flow rate, and time taken for administering the block.
Results: We included 60 adult patients in our study. The groups were comparable with respect to demographic characteristics, symptomatology, comorbidities, and intraoperative complications. Amount of opioid consumption and postoperative pain relief were comparable between the 2 groups. The time taken for laparoscopy-assisted block was shorter when compared with the time taken for USG-guided block (P≤0.05). Postoperative nausea and vomiting, bowel movements, and peak expiratory flow rate were comparable between the 2 groups.
Conclusions: Laparoscopy-assisted TAP block is faster and equally efficacious when compared with USG-guided block and has a definite role in centers where ultrasound is not available in operating rooms.