Effectiveness of transverse abdominis plane blocks in abdominal surgery in hernioplasty

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block is one of the methods of regional anesthesia, which is characterized by injecting a large volume of anesthetic into the fascial space between the internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles that contains the nerves from Th7 to L1.
 THIS STUDY AIMED to study the effectiveness and safety of TAP block in hernioplasty and conduct a comparative analysis of the TAP block with general anesthesia and extended epidural anesthesia.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative analysis of 78 patients who underwent hernioplasty was carried out. Patients are divided into three groups (n=26) depending on the features of the anesthesiological aid. The control group had a surgery that was performed in a multicomponent-combined anesthesia setting with total myoplegia and ALV. Group 1 had general anesthesia that was supplemented by TAP, a unit under the United States navigation. Group 2 had general anesthesia in combination with an extended epidural block. The need for narcotic analgesics and the severity of pain syndrome in the perioperative period were determined in the three groups to assess the effectiveness and safety of the method and compare the hemodynamic parameters. The severity of pain syndrome was determined using a visual analog scale (ALV). Changes in hemodynamic parameters were compared to evaluate the safety of the TAP block. The groups were comparable in terms of volume of surgery, age, and sex.
 STUDY RESULTS: The need for narcotic analgesics was significantly lower in patients in groups 1 and 2 in intra- and postoperative periods than in the control group. Hemodynamic indicators (blood pressure and HS) were characterized by greater stability without significant fluctuations at all major stages of surgery, which indicates the development of adequate analgesia. A significantly decreased intensity of pain syndrome in the group of patients with a TAP block and extended EA was also noted.
 CONCLUSION: Performing a bilateral TAB unit under ultrasound navigation in hernioplasty is an effective and safe method of perioperative pain relief of patients, which in most cases is a preferred alternative to extended EA.