Efficacy of preoperative transversus abdominis plane block for analgesia after kidney transplantation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative transversus abdominis plane block(TAPB)for analgesia after kidney transplantation. Methods Forty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients, aged 18-64 yr, with body mass index of 18-24 kg/m2, scheduled for elective kidney transplantation, were divided into 2 groups(n=20 each)using a random number table: TAPB group and routine analgesia control group(group C). After induction of anesthesia, ultrasound-guided TAPB was performed on the operated side with 0.5% ropivacaine 20 ml in group TAPB.Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with sufentanil was provided to all the patients after surgery.Tramadol 50 mg was intravenously injected as a rescue analgesic to maintain visual analogue scale score within 24 h after surgery≤3.The consumption of anesthetics during surgery and amount of sufentanil consumed and requirement for rescue analgesic within 24 h after surgery were recorded.Ramsay sedation scores were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h after surgery.The occurrence of nausea and vomiting, pruritus and respiratory depression within 24 h after surgery were recorded.TAPB-related complications were also recorded in group TAPB. Results Compared with group C, the consumption of remifentanil was significantly reduced during surgery, and the amount of sufentanil consumed within 24 h after surgery was decreased (P 0.05). No patients required rescue analgesic in two groups.TAPB-related complications were not found in group TAPB. Conclusion Preoperative TAPB reduces the perioperative opioid consumption and enhances the efficacy of postoperative analgesia in the patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Key words: Abdominal muscles; Nerve block; Kidney transplantation; Analgesia