EVALUATION OF TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE (TAP) BLOCK WITH INJ.BUPIVACAINE 0.25% FOR POST-OPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR SURGERY

Background: TransversusAbdominis Plane(TAP)Block is a regional analgesictechnique. Itprovides postoperative analgesia after lower abdominal surgery. The purpose of our study was toevaluate effectiveness of TAP block to provide effective postoperative analgesia in patientsundergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery.Method: Total 60 patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery were randomized toundergo TAPblock with bupivacaine (n = 30) versus normal saline (n = 30)control group. All patients received astandard spinal anaesthesia with standardmonitoring. A TAP block was performed using 20 ml0.25% bupivacaine on the side ofsurgery or 20 ml saline at the end of surgery. Each patient wasfollowed uppostoperatively at 0, 30 min, 60 min, 2 hr, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours in PACU.Rescue analgesics inj. Diclofenacwere offered to any patient whocomplained of pain (VAS Score≥4). Time of rescueanalgesia, total analgesic consumption and any other complicationswereassessed.Result : There was a significantly longer time to the first request for rescue analgesic inbupivacaine group. (507.77 ± 10.38 min) compared to NS group.(110.87±14.2min) Totaldiclofenacconsumptionwas significantly higher in Group S than Group B (82.75 ± 23.2 mgvs193.97 ± 37.6 mg).Conclusion : TAP block provides better postoperative analgesia in patient undergoinginguinalhernia repair surgery . It prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia andsignificantly reduces the total analgesic consumption up to 24 hrs postoperatively