Comparison of Analgesic Effects of Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Rectus Sheath Block in Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomies

"Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is a minimally invasive and superior technique that provides better visualization and maneuverability compared to open and laparoscopic surgical techniques. Previous studies have shown that RALP offers better postoperative oncological and physiological outcomes compared to open and laparoscopic techniques. However, RALP patients still experience pain lasting for several days postoperatively, which requires the use of analgesics such as opioids. This pain is associated with port site incisions, dissection of the prostate and surrounding tissues, bladder spasms, and transurethral catheter irritation. For this purpose, previous studies have utilized central and peripheral methods to reduce postoperative pain. Previous studies have demonstrated the analgesic benefits of TAP block and rectus sheath block in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies. However, the number of studies in this area is limited. In this research, we aim to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of these two peripheral blocks in patients undergoing RALP who have received preoperative TAP block and RSB block.