European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: pain after Cesarean delivery (CD) can negatively affect ambulation, breastfeeding, and maternal bonding. The aim of this study was to determine whether a correctly performed TAPB can provide better control of acute postoperative pain during the first 48 hours after CS and if it can provide a faster postoperative recovery.
Patients and methods: included 32 participants who underwent elective caesarean section assigned randomly into two groups. Group A: 16 patients received TAP block. Group B: 16 patients did not receive any block. Medicine Ten centimeters visual analog scale (VAS) was also explained during preoperative visit. The postoperative pain was evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours by using VAS for pain scoring that was explained to the patients
during preoperative visit as a 100 millimeter horizontal line with verbal anchors at both ends. Results: Our study showed that there is statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding VAS pain scorebaseline or at any point of time (significantly lower in TAP block group). In each group, there is significant change (increase) in VAS pain score over time. There is statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding time for first analgesia (significantly longer in TAP block group). Number of patients who need nalufin was significantly higher in control group (ten patients within control group versus only one in TAP block group). Also, there is statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding patient satisfaction. More than half of patients (56.2%) within TAP block group were very satisfied while half of those within
control group felt neutral (neither satisfied or not). Conclusion: Transverse abdominis plane block represents a viable alternative to common analgesic procedures performed for acute postoperative pain control after a CS.