Abstract PR268

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Appendectomy is one of the most common surgeries among adults and also children. Pain management in children is very important, but the use of opioid analgesics, despite of good performance, due to their side effects are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TAP Block in children on the intensity and frequency of pain after appendectomy. Materials & Methods: After institutional ethics committee approval and written informed parental consent, in a single-blind clinical trial, 40 children aged 4 to 16 years, candidate for appendectomy in Children Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. After general anesthesia, patients in the intervention group, received TAP Block with guidance of ultrasonography by bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.25 ml/kg and 1/200000 adrenaline, in the Petit Triangle (Max dose of 20 ml). Pain was recorded in both groups up to 24 hours after surgery based on the visual analog scale (VAS score). Software SPSS version 16 was used for statistical analysis Results: The mean age of patients in the intervention group was 9.90±2.42 years, and in control group was 10.10±2.31 years. In both groups, 7 patients (35%) were male and 13 patients (65%) were female. The severity of pain according to VAS score, 2 hours after surgery in the intervention group was 6.30±2.20, and in control group was 5.05±2.83. Also the pain intensity, 24 hours after surgery in the intervention group was 3.60±1.63, and in control group was 3.10±1.33. There was no significant difference between intervention and control groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, the TAP block was not effective to reduce pain after appendectomy in children. Studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to be done in this area