Official publication of Rawalpindi Medical University
Effect Of Transverse Abdominis Plane Block With 0.25% Bupivacaine On Post-Operative Opioid Consumption After Cesarean Section: A Prospective Study

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1.
Khalid M, Feroze F, Faheem MSB, Faheem S, Farooq S, Khalid M. Effect Of Transverse Abdominis Plane Block With 0.25% Bupivacaine On Post-Operative Opioid Consumption After Cesarean Section: A Prospective Study. JRMC [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 30 [cited 2025 Jul. 17];29(2). Available from: https://journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/2883

Abstract

Objective: Transverse Abdominis Plane (TAP) block is a technique that can offer post-operative analgesia to patients who have had surgical procedures involving incisions made in the infra-umbilical region. In our study, we investigated whether or not a TAP block administered in conjunction with 0.25% bupivacaine was effective as an analgesic during the full 24-hour postoperative period after cesarean section.

Methods: 100 patients undergoing spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section were randomly chosen to receive TAP block (50 patients in each group). Following surgical intervention, a bilateral TAP plane block was carried out by giving 0.25% bupivacaine to Group A patients and 0.9% normal saline to Group B patients (10 ml on each side). The procedure was guided by ultrasonography. An investigator blinded to the procedure evaluated the post-operative visual analogue scale VAS pain score of each patient and noted the amount of tramadol demanded over the next twenty-four hours.

Results: Patients who received TAP block with 0.25% bupivacaine had a significantly lower post-operative VAS score at first analgesic request time, at 12 hours and 24 hours as compared to those patients who received normal saline (p <0.05). The mean consumption of intravenous opioid (tramadol) given during 24 hours by the surgical ICU staff was significantly decreased in Group A as compared to Group B (p <0.05).

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block with 0.25% bupivacaine lowers postoperative opioid analgesic intake in patients undergoing caesarean section.

Keywords: Bupivacaine, Cesarean section, Prospective study

https://doi.org/10.37939/jrmc.v29i2.2883

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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Khalid, Faheema Feroze, Muhammad Shaheer Bin Faheem, Saadia Faheem, Saeed Farooq, Maliha Khalid