Comparison of Ultrasound Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block versus Intraperitoneal and Periportal Bupivacaine Infiltration in Post Operative Analgesia after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the commonest elective laparoscopic surgeries done in our setup. We found that post-surgery most of the patients complain of incisional pain at port sites and right shoulder tip pain. Objectives: The aim of this study has been to test the efficacy of TAP block versus intraperitoneal and periportal infilteration with local anesthetic agent specially to provide postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients and Methods: All patients were informed with the procedure US guided TAP block and were trained to use the visual analogue scale (VAS). The study was conducted on 50 randomly chosen patients aged 20 to 60 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I or II scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Ain Shams University Hospitals after approval of the medical ethical committee. They were allocated in two groups of 25 patients each: TAP block Group: received general anaesthesia and 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine on each side by midaxillary approach under ultrasound guidance. Intraperitoneal and periportal infiltration Group: received general anaesthesia and 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine was injected under the direct vision into the hepato-diaphragmatic space, near and above the hepato-duodenal ligament and above the gall bladder before removal of the probes, also 20ml of 0.25% bupivacaine was injected at the port sites at the end of operation. Results: The Patients receiving TAP block had significantly lower pain scores at rest for 6 hrs and upon coughing for 6 hrs also after operation and decrease total need of analgesic in first 24 h post operative compared with patients who received Intraperitoneal and periportal infiltration. Conclusion: Bilateral TAP block was effective in reducing postoperative pain scores at rest and upon coughing for 6-12 hours and lower total 24-h postoperative opioid and analgesic consumption after laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia, compared to intraperitoneal and periportal infiltration. This technique can be a promising mode of postoperative analgesia where epidural catheter insertion is contraindicated.