P069 IMPLEMENTATION OF A TAP BLOCK PROTOCOL IN OUTPATIENT LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIA REPAIR DURING COVID PANDEMIC

Abstract

Abstract Aim “COVID has been a great challenge since its beginning. Hospitals had to change/create a lot of clinical pathways and protocols to fight it. As an adaptation to COVID pandemic, our surgical department decided to implement a protocol of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAPB) in laparoscopic incisional ventral hernia repair to allow these patients to be shifted from elective to outpatient regime. This study aimed to analyze the implementation of this protocol during the covid era as a way to have more resources available for COVID patients.” Material and Methods “A retrospective observational study was conducted using data since the beginning of the implementation of the protocol, from July 2020 to May 2021. TAPB was performed in all patients, laparoscopically or ultrasound-guided. Patients and hernia variables were identified using the hospital database. Data was recorded in the recovery room, by a phone call 24h post-surgery and in postoperative consultations with the surgeon.” Results “A total of 18 patients with incisional ventral hernia was included in the study. All patients had laparoscopic incisional ventral hernia repair surgery with TAPB and in ambulatory regime, discharged before 24h, are very satisfied with the protocol in terms of post-operative pain and there are no complications related to the TAPB.” Conclusions “This study found that, despite of COVID Pandemic, implementing a TAP Block procedure during laparoscopic incisional ventral hernia repair, allows to shift these patients from elective to outpatient surgery without compromising the outcomes, pain management and patient security, and, finally, to increase availability of resources for COVID patients.”