Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Laparoscopic Colonic Resection

Summary

Laparoscopic (key-hole) large bowel resection is a minimally invasive procedure when compared to open large bowel resection, but is still associated with a significant amount of pain and discomfort. Analgesia is commonly provided by a multi-modal technique involving varying combinations of paracetamol, Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), regional analgesia and oral or parenteral opioids. While epidural analgesia is considered the gold standard for open colo-rectal procedures it can be associated with significant complications and may delay hospital discharge in laparoscopic procedures. Opioids are associated with an increased incidence of nausea, vomiting and sedation and reduced bowel motility which can also prolong recovery.

Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a technique which numbs the nerves carrying pain sensation from the abdominal wall and provides effective and safe analgesia with minimal systemic side effects. Their perceived benefits are thought to relate to reduced opioid consumption and therefore reduced opioid side effects. The investigators believe ultrasound guided TAP blocks will reduce pain and morphine consumption with a resultant improved patient satisfaction, earlier return of bowel function and earlier hospital discharge.

The key research question the investigators are trying to answer is whether TAP block provide better pain relief than local anaesthetic infiltration of the laparoscopic port sites. Both techniques are currently being used in our hospital and a retrospective audit demonstrated better analgesia and lower consumption of morphine in the TAP block group.The differences were not statistically significant as the number patients in the audit were not large enough.The investigators are hoping that this study will demonstrate that the difference is real by recruiting the necessary number of patients into each group (36 per group)

Conditions

• Colonic Cancer
• Rectal Cancer
• Colonic Diverticulum
• Ulcerative Colitis

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Ultrasound guided Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) bock

Ultrasound guided TAP bock with Bupivacaine 0.25% 20ml per side or to a maximum 1mg/kg per side and the skin puncture will be covered with a small plaster

PROCEDURE

Local anaesthetic infiltration of laparoscopic port sites

Laparoscopic port sites and specimen extraction site will be infiltrated with a total of 40 mls 0.25% bupivacaine subcutaneously at the end of the procedure in the control group and plasters will be stuck on either side approximately where a skin puncture for tap block would be made.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nicholas Crabtree, MB,ChB, FRCA · Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust , Oxford

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-09-30

Primary Completion

2013-12-31

Completion

2015-12-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations