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TAP Block Versus Conventional Systemic Analgesia

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Analgesia
Interventions
Procedure: Transverse Abdominal Plan block (TAP block)
Registration Number
NCT06058715
Lead Sponsor
Ministry of Scientific Research, Tunisia
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare TAP block to conventional systemic analgesia for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. As the adverse effects of pain management is related to size of opioid dose use, opioid consumption is chosen as the primary outcome and a decrease of at least 20% in the TAP block compared with the conventional systemic analgesia is considered to be clinically significant.

Written informed consent has to obtained from all study patients. This trial is a prospective parallel group randomized superiority trial comparing TAP block to classic systemic analgesia in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery in the department of surgery, Mahmoud El Matri Hospital, Ariana, with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Detailed Description

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy constitutes a routinely performed procedure world-wide. Analgesia accounts for one of the major keys for success especially in enhanced recovery after surgery pathway and ambulatory surgery. Hence, controlling opioid consumption used in conventional systemic analgesia is mandatory while reliving pain. The TAP block is integrated within a multimodal analgesia. It corresponds to a locoregional analgesia.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare TAP block to conventional systemic analgesia for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. As the adverse effects of pain management is related to size of opioid dose use, opioid consumption is chosen as the primary outcome and a decrease of at least 20% in the TAP block compared with the conventional systemic analgesia is considered to be clinically significant.

Written informed consent has to obtained from all study patients. This trial is a prospective parallel group randomized superiority trial comparing TAP block to classic systemic analgesia in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic surgery in the department of surgery, Mahmoud El Matri Hospital, Ariana, with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
380
Inclusion Criteria

All patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the department of surgery, Mahmoud El Matri Hospital, Ariana

Exclusion Criteria
  • Severe renal insufficiency (GFR < 30 ml/min)
  • Severe hepatic insufficiency (TT ≤ 50%)
  • Severe COPD (FEV1 > 30%)
  • Metastatic malignancy
  • Hematologic disease or a congenital clotting disorder
  • Preoperative opioid use
  • Age under 18 years
  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding
  • Hyper-reactivity toward ropivacaine
  • Estimated risk for conversion to open surgery > 50%

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional analgesiaTransverse Abdominal Plan block (TAP block)No additional regional anesthesia, including epidural or spinal anesthesia, is given. For postoperative analgesia, all patients receive paracetamol intravenously at the dose of 1 g three times up to 24 hours, starting immediately after surgery. Complementary opioids are given on request when pain numerical rating scale (pain NRS) : NRS \> 3 at rest or for pain NRS \> 5 on exercise. Oxycodone is given intravenously at the dose of 0.05 mg/kg only in the recovery room up to two hours after the surgery. It is administrated intramuscularly at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg up to 24 hours after surgery. Then, it is given orally at the dose of 0.2 mg/kg from 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
TAP blockTransverse Abdominal Plan block (TAP block)Bilateral TAP block is administered intraoperatively at laparoscopy, directly after insufflation and insertion of the first trocar and camera. The ultrasound probe is placed longitudinally on the midaxillary line near umbilicus, and the transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles are scanned and observed. The needle (22-gauge 90 mm disposable spinal needle) is inserted in plane. After placing the needle-tip into the fascia between transversus abdominis and internal oblique muscles, Ropivacaine 0.25% (Naropin) is injected bilaterally at the dose of 0.5 mg/kg. It is all done by one Anesthetist which is expert in that area and is not in charge of collecting the data. No additional regional anesthesia, including epidural or spinal anesthesia, is given. The patients are mobilized in the recovery room 2 h after surgery.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Opioid consumption during the first 48 h postoperatively.Every six hours

Opioids are given only on request based on pain numerical rating scale (pain NRS) varying from 0 to10. For pain NRS \> 3 at rest or for pain NRS \> 5 on exercise, oxycodone is administrated intravenously at the recovery room at the dose of 0.05 mg/kg. Then, it is used intramuscularly at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg up to 24 hours after surgery and orally at the dose of 0.15 mg/kg between 24 and 48 hours after surgery.

At 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively, all patients are contacted either by phone or at the outpatient clinic during a follow-up visit and asked to complete a form with questions evaluating pain sensations, pain intensity, need for pain medication, performance of daily activities, and any limitations of these due to postoperative abdominal pain.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain intensity on a numerical rating scale (pain NRS, 0-10)Every six hours

pain intensity is measured 30 min after arrival and then every hour until the patient is discharged to the ward. In the ward, the pain NRS score is measured for each consecutive 6-h block. Means of the first and second 6-h blocks and third and fourth blocks are calculated and used for further analysis. Additionally, the maximal daily pain NRS scores are collected. At the time of discharge, patients evaluate their satisfaction with pain management as a whole (scale 0-3: 0 poor; 3 excellent).

Postoperative evaluation at 4 weeksAt 4 weeks after surgery

At 4 weeks postoperatively, all patients are contacted either by phone and asked to complete a form with questions evaluating pain sensations, pain intensity, need for pain medication, performance of daily activities, and any limitations of these due to postoperative abdominal pain.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of surgery, Mahmoud El Matri hospital, Ariana, Tunisia

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Ariana, Tunisia

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