Evaluation of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in lipoabdominoplasty surgical procedure: a comparative study

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a well-known regional nerve block, used for the pain control in various surgeries. There are only few studies in the literature, which have evaluated analgesic efficacy of TAP block in Abdominoplasty; A surgery in which post-operative pain is of major concern for both patient and operating surgeon.

We conducted randomized control trial, to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block in Abdominoplasty patients for controlling post-operative pain.

Sixty patients planned for lipoabdominoplasty were randomly assigned to two groups A and B, with thirty Patients in each group. The ultrasound guided TAP block was administered in group A patients whereas no block was administered to group B. The patients in two groups were compared for demographic characteristics, pain intensity on mobilization, opioid consumption, time to first rescue analgesic dosage and nausea- vomiting incidences.

The demographic characteristics were similar in both groups. The Group A Patients required significantly smaller mean dose of opioids and had significantly longer mean time of first request for analgesic medication. The Median VAS score on mobilization in Group A was significantly lower than Group B. Only few patients in group A experienced nausea-vomiting compared to group B.

The ultrasound guided TAP block provides effective analgesia after Lipoabdominoplasty, which allows more convenient early post-operative mobilization and decreases opioid requirement as well as its related side-effects. Hence we suggest that ultrasound guided TAP block should be considered in most lipoabdominoplasty cases for better patient experience.