Evaluation of postoperative pain on Transversus Abdominis Plane block and Erector Spinae Plane block in patients undergoing gynecological surgery: a prospective, comparative study

INTRODUCTION: Moderate to severe pain after gynecological surgery has an impact on postoperative recovery and mobilization. Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block and Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block have been used as multimodal analgesia for abdominal surgery. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare postoperative pain in patients undergoing either ESP blocks or TAP blocks, and the need for postoperative morphine in patients undergoing gynecological surgery.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, double-arm, comparative study. Forty subjects were enrolled in this study, and classified into two groups. One group of 20 subjects underwent ESP block, and the remaining 20 subjects underwent TAP block following a gynecologic surgical procedure. Patients were then assessed using with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score which will be observed at intervals of 0–1 hour, 1–6 hours, 6–12 hours, and 12–24 hours. Numerical data analysis was done using an unpaired T-test on normally distributed data and the Mann-Whitney test on non-normally distributed data. Categorical data analysis was done using Fisher's Exact Test. RESULTS: NRS score at rest was higher in the TAP block group at 1–6 hours and 6–12 hours (pain scale 3) than in the ESP block group (pain scale 1). Movement-evoked pain NRS score was higher in the TAP block groups significantly. CONCLUSION: ESP block results in a lower postoperative pain score NRS value and reduces the need for morphine in post-gynecological surgery patients with a median incision compared to the TAP block.