TAP block in inguinal hernia repair. Randomized controlled trial

Around the world, inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequent surgical interventions and is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain. TAP (Transversus Abdominis Plane) block appears to be a useful tool to reduce the morbidity associated with pain in inguinal hernia repair. Objective To evaluate the analgesic effect of a TAP block in patients scheduled for primary inguinal hernia repair, 1 h and 24-h post-surgery. Materials and methods Randomized controlled trial. 45 patients were randomized to receive placebo vs. TAP block. Clinical, surgical and anesthetic variables were analyzed. The primary outcome was pain in the first hour and the secondary outcome was pain during the first 24 h, opiate use and side effects. Results The acute postoperative pain score during the first hour in the control group was 6 with maximum values of 9 in 22% of patients, whereas in the intervention group the pain score was 2 (SD: 1) (p: 0.03). Likewise, pain 24 h postop and opiate consumption was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusions TAP block helps to reduce acute postoperative pain and the use of opiates in inguinal hernia repair.