Bharat Ravaliya1, Nandan Bhupendrabhai Upadhyaya2, Rina Ashwin Gadhvi3
Postoperative analgesia for abdominal surgery is provided either by systemic drugs, epidural anaesthesia or peripheral nerve blockade. Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a local anaesthetic block used to provide analgesia to the anterior and lateral abdominal wall.1 This comparative, observational randomized study was designed to evaluate efficacy of bilateral TAP block with 0.2% 20 ml ropivacaine with inj. Tramadol (1.5 mg/kg I.V.) after lower abdominal surgeries done under spinal anaesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS50 patients aged between 18-65 years, belonging to ASA Grade I-II, were divided randomly into 2 groups, having 25 patients each group.Group A: TAP block with inj. ropivacaine (0.2%) 20 ml on each side.Group B: I.V. analgesia with inj. tramadol 1.5 mg/kg.Postoperative following parameters were analysed, and comparison done-1. Haemodynamic changes.2. Visual analogue pain score.3. Mean time for 1st additional analgesic (duration of analgesia).4. Total additional analgesics doses consumption in 24 hour. RESULTSMean blood pressures (systolic, diastolic) were comparable in both, VAS score was consistently low in A group than B group which was statistically significant at 2, 4, 6, 12 hours. Duration of analgesia was longer in A group 9.92±5.492 hour which was longer and statistically significant compared to 4.88±1.301 hour in B group. Mean additional analgesic doses consumption as diclofenac sodium 75 mg I.V. in 24 hrs post operatively was less 1.20±0.500 in A group than 1.64±0.63 B group. CONCLUSIONTAP block with landmark technique considered a technically simple block to perform with ease, has good efficacy and excellent safety profile.
