A randomised controlled trial of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block for renal transplantation

We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of a transversus abdominis plane block in reducing morphine requirements in the first 24 h after renal transplant surgery. We performed transversus abdominis plane injections under ultrasound guidance in 54 patients with either 20 ml levobupivacaine 0.5% (n = 27) or 20 ml saline 0.9% (n = 27). All patients received regular paracetamol and patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively. Three participants were not studied owing to protocol violations. In the remaining 51 patients, median (IQR [range]) morphine consumption in the first 24 h was similar in both the transversus abdominis plane group (19.4 (11.7-28.6 [0.5-49.8]) mg) and the control group (16.4 (12.0-31.0 [0.0-61.7]) mg), p = 0.94. We found that use of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block for renal transplantation did not reduce 24-h morphine requirements.