Laparoscopic-assisted Versus Ultrasonography-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Launched by CAIRO UNIVERSITY · Mar 28, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This trial is comparing two ways to do a Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block, a local anesthetic technique to help with pain after abdominal surgery. The goal is to see if the surgeon-delivered TAP block (LAPTAP), done during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, works at least as well as the ultrasound-guided TAP block (US-TAP) done by the anesthesia team. It’s a randomized, triple-masked study, meaning participants, the researchers, and those assessing outcomes won’t know which TAP method was used. The study is being led by Cairo University in Egypt, plans to enroll about 74 adults, and is currently enrolling by invitation with results not yet available (start about 2024, primary completion around 2025).

Who can join: adults 18 or older who are scheduled for elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and have a BMI over 40 (with ASA physical status I–III). People with a history of long-term opioid use, those who have conditions that make blocks risky, those allergic to study drugs, or those with prior complex abdominal wall surgery are not eligible. If enrolled, participants will be randomly assigned to either US-TAP or LAPTAP during surgery, with blinding maintained for participants, investigators, and outcome assessors. The main outcome is how much morphine a participant needs in the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include time to first analgesic request, patient satisfaction with pain control (on a 1–4 scale), and any opioid-related side effects like slowed heart rate or low blood pressure.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Elective laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy aging \> 18years BMI \> 40 kg/m2, ASA score I-III
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • history of chronic opioid consumption suffering from contraindications to regional blocks suffering from allergy to study drugs, history of prior complex abdominal wall reconstruction