A Comparative Study for Postoperative Analgesia by Accufuser versus Patient-Controlled Analgesia using Continuous Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Caesarean Section

Abstract

Poorly controlled acute pain after abdominal surgery is associated with a variety of unwanted post-operative consequences, including patient suffering, distress, respiratory complications, delirium, myocardial ischemia, prolonged hospital stay and an increased likelihood of chronic pain. The analgesic regimen needs to meet the goals of providing safe, effective analgesia, with minimal side effects for the patient, together with inhibition of trauma –induced nociceptive impulses. In order to blunt the autonomic and somatic reflex responses to pain and to enhance subsequent restoration of the function of different body-organs as breathing, coughing, and moving easily, together with resumption of oral feeding, and early hospital discharge. Many studies have been carried out trying to find a solution for these dilemma thus different pain modalities as local infiltration of the surgical field, systemic analgesia (narcotics and non-narcotics), neuro-axial blocks, and nerve blocks shined out, however each has shown its side effect which limits its use to specific cases. Abdominal field blocks have been extensively used for a variety of surgical procedures for many years. They are simple to perform and have a good safety profile. The aim of this study is to assess the postoperative analgesic efficacy of continuous transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block using Accufuser compared to patient-controlled