Abstract

Bariatric surgery has been shown to successfully achieve sustainable weight-loss in Class II obesity or in patients with body mass index >35 kg/m². Even though that the bariatric surgery is considered to be a minimally invasive procedure and is performed with a laparoscopic approach, moderate to severe pain often occurs during the immediate postoperative period. One of the anesthetics regularly used to relieve pain after surgery are opioids. However, opioids have numerous side effects and carry the risk of long-term abuse. The use of abdominal wall blocks, such Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block or Subcostal TAP block, has been suggested as an effective strategy to reduce postoperative pain after abdominal surgery. The aim of the current study was to compare the efficacy of ultrasound guided TAP block and the Subcostal TAP block on pain intensity and the use of pain relief medications, 2 and 24 hours after bariatric surgery. The data revealed that the peripheral nerve blocks TAP and Subcostal TAP reduced significantley pain intensity and the analgesic consumption during the first 24 hours after bariatric surgery, compared to patients who did not receive a block treatments.

Keywords:Bariatric surgery; Pain management; Transversus abdominis plane block; Subcostal TAP block