A Comparative Study of Postoperative Analgesia Provided by Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Using Two Concentrations of Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Inguinal Hernia Repair.

BACKGROUND

Pain after open inguinal hernia surgery can be moderate to severe and is known to prolong hospital stay and delay return to normal daily activities.

SETTINGS

A randomized controlled trial conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology in a tertiary care hospital.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy of postoperative analgesia provided by equal volumes of 0.125% and 0.25% bupivacaine administered in an ultrasound (US)-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After obtaining Institutional Ethics Committee approval and informed consent, sixty patients posted for inguinal hernia repair were recruited. Randomization was done using a sealed envelope technique. Patients were divided into two groups; Group 0.125 received 20 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine and Group 0.25 received 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine through US-guided TAP block at the end of surgery. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and duration of analgesia were recorded.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the VAS scores among both groups. The duration of analgesia provided by 0.25% bupivacaine was significantly longer than that provided by 0.125% (Group 0.125 - 355.67 ± 118.88 min and Group 0.25 - 635.73 ± 195.58 min; < 0.05). No complications were noted in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The duration of analgesia provided by 0.25% bupivacaine was significantly longer than that provided by 0.125% bupivacaine through US-guided TAP block in inguinal hernia repair.