Efficacy of surgical transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative pain relief following abdominal surgery in pediatric patients

Summary Background Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a promising effective method for postoperative pain control after major abdominal surgery. Using a landmark technique, it is easily performed, but its popularity has decreased because of less efficacy due to inaccurate injection and the potential for intraperitoneal organ damage. Ultrasound‐guided TAP block provides better results and less complications, but it requires experienced operators. Surgically administered TAP (sTAP) block is a simple technique and may cause less complications. This study was aimed to determine the efficacy of sTAP on postoperative pain control in pediatric patients following a major abdominal surgery, compared with local anesthetic infiltration and no block. Methods This stratified, randomized controlled trial was conducted in pediatric patients, below the age of 15 years, who underwent non‐laparoscopic major abdominal surgery. Patients were allocated into three groups. The control group received no block; the LA group received 0.25% bupivacaine for local wound infiltration; and the sTAP group received 0.25% bupivacaine for TAP block performed by a surgeon before abdominal wall closure. Parameter records included the incidence of inadequate pain control, time to first analgesic, opioid requirement within 24 h, and complications of these techniques. Results Fifty‐four patients were recruited. There was no significant difference in the incidence of inadequate pain control (P = 0.589). The median time to first analgesic was 380 min in the sTAP group compared with 370 and 420 min in the LA and control groups, respectively (95%CI = 193–567, 121–619, and 0–1012; P = 0.632). The median dose of total opioid requirement (calculated as fentanyl‐equivalent dose) was 1.95, 2.05, and 2.04 μg·kg−1·24 h−1 in the sTAP, LA, and control groups, respectively (IQR = 0.65, 2.20; 0.59, 3.32; 0.38, 2.60; P = 0.723). No complications of sTAP block were detected. Conclusions There was no significant advantage of the sTAP block over local infiltration or no intervention for postoperative pain control in pediatric patients undergoing non‐laparoscopic major abdominal surgeries.