Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Summary

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block involves the sensory nerve supply of the anterior -lateral abdominal wall where the T7-12 intercostal nerves, ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric and the lateral cutaneous branches of the dorsal rami of L1-3 are blocked with an injection of local anesthetic between the internal oblique abdominal muscle (IOAM) and the transverse abdominal muscle(TAM)This technique allows sensory blockade of the anterolateral abdominal wall via local anesthetic deposition superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle. It was first described by McDonnell et al. as a landmark technique to provide analgesia for lower abdominal surgery. Hebbart et al. subsequently described an ultrasound guided technique for the TAP block which they named posterior TAP block. The ultrasound allows identification of the external oblique abdominal muscles (EOAM),IOAM and TAM. Previous studies about ultrasound -guided regional anesthetic techniques suggest improved block quality and safety, which is primarily due to direct visualization of the relevant anatomy, the tip of the needle, and the spread of the local anesthetics. Clinical trials of the single shot posterior TAP block have shown a significant reduction in morphine consumption during the first 24-36 hours after surgery. More recently, El-dawlatly et al. demonstrated that ultrasound guided TAP block in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced perioperative opioid consumption by more than 50%. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of TAP block in the quality of recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy and may help the pathway to make this an outpatient procedure.

Timeline

Start

2010-03

Primary completion

2010-10

Completion

2010-10

Publications

• Background Jacobson GF, Shaber RE, Armstrong MA, Hung YY. Hysterectomy rates for benign indications. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jun;107(6):1278-83. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000210640.86628.ff.
• Background Babalola EO, Bharucha AE, Schleck CD, Gebhart JB, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ 3rd. Decreasing utilization of hysterectomy: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1965-2002. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Mar;196(3):214.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2006.10.390.
• Background Lenz H, Sandvik L, Qvigstad E, Bjerkelund CE, Raeder J. A comparison of intravenous oxycodone and intravenous morphine in patient-controlled postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic hysterectomy. Anesth Analg. 2009 Oct;109(4):1279-83. doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e3181b0f0bb.
• Background Thiel JA, Kamencic H. Assessment of costs associated with outpatient total laparoscopic hysterectom. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2006 Sep;28(9):794-798. doi: 10.1016/S1701-2163(16)32258-7.
• Background Lovatsis D, Jose JB, Tufman A, Drutz HP, Murphy K. Assessment of patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management after ambulatory gynaecologic laparoscopy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2007 Aug;29(8):664-7. doi: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)32552-x.
• Background Wills VL, Hunt DR. Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Br J Surg. 2000 Mar;87(3):273-84. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2168.2000.01374.x.
• Background Goldstein A, Grimault P, Henique A, Keller M, Fortin A, Darai E. Preventing postoperative pain by local anesthetic instillation after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a placebo-controlled comparison of bupivacaine and ropivacaine. Anesth Analg. 2000 Aug;91(2):403-7. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200008000-00032.
• Background Shaw IC, Stevens J, Krishnamurthy S. The influence of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on pain following major laparoscopic gynaecological procedures. Anaesthesia. 2001 Nov;56(11):1041-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2001.02215.x.
• Background Moiniche S, Mikkelsen S, Wetterslev J, Dahl JB. A qualitative systematic review of incisional local anaesthesia for postoperative pain relief after abdominal operations. Br J Anaesth. 1998 Sep;81(3):377-83. doi: 10.1093/bja/81.3.377.
• Background Keita H, Benifla JL, Le Bouar V, Porcher R, Wachowska B, Bedairia K, Mantz J, Desmonts JM. Prophylactic ip injection of bupivacaine and/or morphine does not improve postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Can J Anaesth. 2003 Apr;50(4):362-7. doi: 10.1007/BF03021033.
• De Oliveira GS Jr, Milad MP, Fitzgerald P, Rahmani R, McCarthy RJ. Transversus abdominis plane infiltration and quality of recovery after laparoscopic hysterectomy: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Dec;118(6):1230-1237. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e318236f67f.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.