Analgesic outcomes of ultrasound-guided tap block in elective abdominal surgery: A clinical and statistical appraisal

Abstract

Background: Postoperative pain following abdominal surgery remains a significant concern, influencing patient recovery, length of hospital stay, and overall satisfaction. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, an ultrasound-guided regional anesthetic technique, targets the thoracolumbar nerves of the anterior abdominal wall and is increasingly used for pain control. Despite its rising popularity, further evaluation is necessary to confirm its efficacy across diverse surgical populations. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Department of Anaesthesia, Sree Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, from September 2021 to August 2022. One hundred adult patients undergoing elective lower abdominal surgery were included. Group A (n=50) received ultrasound-guided TAP block with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine postoperatively, while Group B (n=50) received standard intravenous analgesia. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption and time to first rescue analgesia. Statistical significance was evaluated using independent t-tests and Chi-square tests. Results: Group A showed significantly lower mean VAS scores at all time points (p<0.001), with prolonged analgesia duration (mean 7.4±1.2 hours vs. 3.1±0.8 hours) and reduced opioid requirement (p<0.01). No major adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided TAP block provides effective postoperative analgesia in abdominal surgeries, reducing opioid use and improving patient comfort without additional risk.