Effectiveness and Safety of Continuous Transverse Abdominal Plane Blocks vs Epidural Analgesia in Donor...

The transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block is sensitive and encompasses peripheral nerves of the anterior abdominal wall. It decreases 27% of the forced vital capacity, 58% of maximum inspiratory, and 51% of the maximum expiratory pressure on the first postoperative day. It is a postoperative analgesic alternative.

The researchers sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the TAP block compared with continuous epidural analgesia in donor nephroureterectomy.

A controlled clinical trial of 30 randomized patients in 2 groups-TAP and continuous epidural analgesia-was used. In the TAP group, a catheter was installed in the transverse abdominal plane and ropivacaine, 0.375% 20 mL, and ropivacaine, 0.2%, were deposited in an elastomeric infuser. The other group was installed with an epidural catheter; at the end of the surgery, 10mL of ropivacaine 0.2% was administered and connected to an elastomeric infuser. Adverse effects and pain intensity were evaluated in the first 36 hours; Student t test and the χ² test were applied.

The study showed similar analgesia in both groups at 6 hours after the procedure (P = .256); better analgesia was seen in the TAP group in the next 30 hours (P = .000). Researchers also found time for bladder catheter removal, ambulation, and minor hospital discharge in the TAP vs the epidural group as follows: 18.2 ± 3.6 vs 21.7 ± 4.4 hours (P = .028), 20 ± 3.5 vs 23.5 ± 4.2 hours (P = .019), and 51.2 ± 8.4 vs 62.4 ± 17.6 hours (P = .035), respectively.

Continuous TAP blockade is an effective and safe technique. It favors early recovery, early removal of the bladder catheter, ambulation, and discharge.