A Comparison of Analgesic Effect between Preoperative and Postoperative Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Blocks for Different Durations of Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery

Aim. This study aims to compare the postoperative analgesia between preoperative and postoperative ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for different durations of laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods. A total of 120 patients, ASA I-III, 18–65 years of age, were divided randomly into 2 groups: preoperative TAP group (pre-TAP group) and postoperative TAP group (post-TAP group). Patients in the pre-TAP group (n = 60) and post-TAP group (n = 60) received bilateral TAP blocks of 0.375% ropivacaine, 40 mL, preoperatively and postoperatively, respectively. Duration of surgery, postoperative pain score, consumption of analgesics, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during the first 24 h postoperatively were recorded. Results. For all the patients in the two groups, similar analgesia was obtained with no statistical difference. The same results were found in duration of surgery <180 min. Meanwhile, patients undergoing surgery >180 min in the post-TAP group obtained lower postoperative pain score, lower analgesics consumption, and higher satisfaction score than those in the pre-TAP group. Conclusion. Postoperative TAP block could offer better postoperative analgesia than preoperative TAP block for patients undergoing surgery >180 min. No difference was found in analgesia effect between preoperative TAP block and postoperative TAP block for patients undergoing surgery <180 min.