The Effects of TAP Block on Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis and Pain in Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery

Thiols are organic sulphur derivatives containing Sulfhydryl Residues (-SH) in their active regions. Thiols easily react with oxygen containing free radicals to form disulfides. This is a defence mechanism against oxidative stress.7 An automated analysis quantitatively measuring serum native and total thiol, and disulfides has been recently described as a method to determine dynamic Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis (TDH).The role of dynamic thioldisulfide homeostasis has been increasingly shown in many diseases. There is a growing number of evidences that an abnormal thiol-disulfide homeostasis may play role in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Laparoscopic gynecological surgery has several advantages when compared to open surgery, including faster postoperative recovery and lower pain scores. However, the possibility of significant postoperative pain remains. Trocar placement, tissue dissection, and pneumoperitoneum formation contribute to postoperative pain in laparoscopic surgery. If this pain is not treated adequately, it can cause an increase in pain levels, nausea and vomiting, and as a result, a decrease in patient comfort and a prolongation of hospitalization. Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is easy to perform and has recently become a popular technique for reducing postoperative pain after abdominal surgery. It has been reported that it provides effective postoperative analgesia with a decrease in opioid consumption in various open abdominal surgical procedures and contributes to faster patient recovery.

In the study, it was aimed to compare patients who underwent laparoscopic gynecological surgery with and without TAP block in terms of postoperative pain levels and Thiol/Disulfide homeostasis.