Background
TAP and the paravertebral block both have been described as successful as an adjunct for postoperative analgesia following abdominal procedures. The proposed benefits of both include the avoidance of neuraxial analgesic techniques and their associated risks, as well as a reported reduction in opioid consumption.
Objective
This study is aimed to compare between ultrasound guided (TAP) block and ultrasound guided paravertebral block (PVB) and their effect as regard postoperative analgesia, the total analgesic requirements 24 h after abdominal surgeries, their impact on stress response and incidence of postoperative complications.
Methods
We performed a randomized controlled trial on 80 patients subjected to unilateral upper abdominal surgeries of both sexes, age between 20 and 50, and ASA physical status I–II. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. (): 40 patients undergoing ultrasound guided unilateral transversus abdominis plane block (): 40 patients undergoing ultrasound guided unilateral thoracic paravertebral block.
Results
There was a significant decrease in VAS scores in PVB group with relatively longer time to 1st order analgesia and relatively lower analgesic requirements than TAP group as regard stress response both group attenuate increase in post operative stress hormone with no significant difference. While PVB group decrease PONV more than TAP group with no significant difference between both groups as regard total ephedrine consumption.
Conclusion
We concluded that ultrasound guided transverses abdominis plane block and thoracic paravertebral block were safe and effective anesthetic technique for upper abdominal surgery with longer and potent postoperative analgesia in thoracic paravertebral block than transverses abdominis block.