MP32-20: Laparoscopic versus ultrasound guided Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia after radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled trial

Angelo Civitella*, Francesco Prata, Piergiorgio Tuzzolo, Luca Romei, Vito Giuseppe Crimi, Francesco Tedesco, Alberto Ragusa, Noemi Deanesi, Antonio Testa, Loris Cacciatore, Gerardo Paolo Flammia, Antonio Alcini, Annamaria Salerno, Rome, Italy, Salvatore Mario Prata, Sora, Italy, Francesco Esperto, Roberto Mario Scarpa, Rocco Papalia, Rome, Italy

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic TAP block in relation to the US-TAP block comparing: surgery time, operating room time, post-operative pain, use of opioids and hospitalization in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

Methods: From January 2021 to June 2021, 60 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were enrolled and randomized in two groups receiving US or LAP guided TAP block. The primary outcome was pain score expressed by a 0-10 Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) evaluated in the first 72 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative opioid consumption, surgical time, complications, time to ambulation and total hospital length of stay

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in surgery time, blood loss, time to ambulation, length of stay and pain after surgery. In the LAP tap-block group the overall operating room time was significantly shorter than in the US tap-block group (140’ vs 152’ P = 0,04)

Conclusions: Laparoscopic approach compared to US-TAP block was equally safe, not inferior in reducing analgesic drugs use post operatively. Moreover, the LAP TAP block has proven to be a time sparing procedure. Further studies with a larger sample are expected to confirm the efficacy LAP guided TAP block in urologic surgery

Source of Funding: None