Efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block for acute postoperative pain relief in kidney recipients: a double-blinded clinical trial.
Soltani MS, Dabir A, et al.Pain Medicine 2014; 15(3): 460-464.
Aims
To investigate the efficacy of a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to reduce post operative pain and opiod consumption in renal transplant recipients.
Interventions
Patients were administered with 15mL of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 5µ/ml epinephrine or saline in the transversus abdominis neurofascial plane using ultrasound guidance.
Participants
44 patients scheduled for a renal transplant.
Outcomes
The primary outcome included post operative pain evaluated by the numeric rating scale. The secondary outcome was opiate consumption during surgery and 24 hours after surgery.
Follow-up
24 hours after surgery.
CET Conclusions
This was a carefully done study which showed convincingly that injecting bupivacaine plus epinephrine into the transversus abdominis using ultra sound guidance caused a very profound reduction in pain in the first 24 hours after renal transplantation. This resulted in a marked reduction in the opioid treatment needed by the patients. There were no complications in either the study group or the control group.
Data analysis
Modified intention-to-treat analysis
Trial registration
Not reported