COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN SCORE FOLLOWING TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK VERSUS PLACEBO, IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE TOTAL ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean postoperative pain score following Transversus Abdominis Plane block versus placebo, in patients undergoing elective total Abdominal Hysterectomy under general anaesthesia.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from May 2016 to Nov 2016.

Methodology: A total of 74 (37 cases in each group) were included in the study. Group-A received ultrasoundguided bilateral blocks with 0.25% bupivacaine while placebo group (group-B) was administered injection of normal saline.

Results: In group-A 20 patients (54.0%) and in group-B 19 patients (51.4%) belonged to American Society of Anesthesiologist class-I (ASA-I) status while in group-A 17 patients (56.0%) and in group-B 18 patients (48.6%) were having American Society of Anesthesiologist class-II (ASA-II) status. Mean values of height (cm), weight (kg), parity, BMI (kg/m2) and IV tramadol consumption (mg) were calculated. Comparison of pain score between two group was done, mean pain score in group-A was 1.62 ± 0.49 and in group-B 3.38 ± 0.49. There was statistically significant difference observed between two groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The transversus abdominis plane block, as a component of a multimodal analgesic regimen, provided superior analgesia when compared to placebo block at 24 postoperative hours after elective total abdominal hysterectomy.