GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERIES

Objectives: To evaluate the use of ultra-sound guided transversus abdominisplane block for effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing gynaecological surgeryvia transverse lower abdominal skin incision. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Period:Six months from April 2013 to October 2013. Setting: Department of Anesthesiology, HolyFamily hospital, Rawalpindi .Sampling technique: Consecutive non-probability sampling.Material and Methods: 200 female patients undergoing gynecological surgery via transverselower abdominal skin incision were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups;both received ultra-sound guided transversus abdominus plane block with either bupivacaine(Group A) or saline (Group B). SPSS version17.0 was used to analyze the data. Results:Two hundred female patients undergoing gynecological surgeries were included. Mean ageof patients was 41 yrs (17-71yrs). There were 100 patients in each group. Both groups werecomparable with respect to baseline features. The US-TAP block significantly reduced painintensity as compared to standard care in the PACU at 4hrs(5.2±3.1vs.8.4±1.3,p=0.003).Therewas insignificant difference between the visual assessment score of pain at 8hrs between thetwo study groups(3.6±2.3vs.2.3±2.4,p=0.4). Conclusions: Ultrasound guided transversusabdominis plane block (TAP) is an effective modality for reducing postoperative pain aftergynaecological surgery via transverse lower abdominal skin incision.