Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Combined with Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia on Postoperative Analgesia After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose To compare the effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) combined with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) and PCIA alone on analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial, 160 patients undergoing LC were randomized into the TAPB group (n = 80) and PCIA group (n = 80). Bilateral ultrasound-guided TAPB was performed with 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine and the PCIA pump was given after LC in the TAPB group. The PCIA group received the PCIA pump alone as a control group. The primary outcome was postoperative pain, assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS). Results VAS pain (including abdominal wall pain or visceral pain) scores at rest and coughing were significantly lower in the TAPB group at 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after LC (P < 0.05). Postoperative additional analgesic needs, analgesic pump compressions, and PCIA analgesic dosages, and total morphine equivalents were significantly reduced in the TAPB group, and postoperative hospital stay, total hospitalization expenses, expenses within 24 h or 48 h (from analgesia and adverse reactions), and patient satisfaction were significantly higher in the TAPB group than the PCIA group (all P < 0.05). No significant between-group differences were observed in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, unplugging the analgesic pump due to adverse reactions, first exhaust time, and postoperative adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided TAPB combined with PCIA was an effective and safe perioperative analgesic technique for patients undergoing LC compared to PCIA only.