Efficacy of Trans Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block for Post-caesarean Delivery Analgesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: Caesarean delivery is a major surgical procedure after which substantial post-operative pain and discomfort can be anticipated. A substantial component of pain experienced by patients is derived from abdominal wall incision. Currently multimodal analgesia technique involving abdominal field block with parenteral analgesia are becoming popular for these patients. Transversus abdominal plane (TAP) blockcan relieve pain associated with abdominal incision. We carried out this study to evaluate the efficacy of TAP block in providing post operativepain relief and the cumulative requirement of analgesic over first 48 hour in patients who underwent LSCS under spinal anaesthesia.Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study was carried out with 60 patients posted for electivecaesarean section, two groups with 30 patients each. Both groups were compared to see the effectiveness of Trans Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block as a method for post-operative multimodal analgesia technique using VAS score. Total number of rescue analgesia required upto 48hrs and total dose of rescue analgesia given in both the groups was also compared.Results: The mean VAS score at rest andon movement was decreased significantly after Trans Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block. The total dose and number of rescue analgesia was also decreased significantly.Conclusions: TAP block as a component of multimodal analgesia after caesarean section was effective in providing analgesia with delayed time for 1st rescue analgesia and reduction in total analgesic requirement in 1st 48 hr.