Mapping the landscape: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of transversus abdominis plane block research (2007–2024)

Background: The transversus abdominis plane block (TAP-B) has emerged as a key component of multimodal analgesic regimens aimed at mitigating perioperative pain in diverse abdominal surgeries. Despite its widespread clinical adoption, the precise analgesic efficacy of TAP-B remains a subject of ongoing debate and active scientific inquiry. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of TAP-B publication trends and emerging research directions is essential to guide future investigation and advance evidence-based practice. Methods: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, covering TAP-B-related publications from January 2007 to May 2024. Extracted bibliographic data included authorship, institutional affiliation, country of origin, journal, funding source, research discipline, and research focus. Only original research articles were included, resulting in 702 publications for final analysis. Results: Among the 702 eligible articles, the United States contributed the highest number of publications, followed by China and India. At the institutional level, the University of Copenhagen emerged as the most productive institution. Laffey JG and McDonnell JG were identified as the most prolific authors, while Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques published the highest number of TAP-B-related articles. Key research themes centered on perioperative analgesia, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, and laparoscopy. Emerging trends indicated growing interest in the analgesic mechanisms of TAP-B and its comparative efficacy with other novel truncal blocks, such as quadratus lumborum and erector spinae plane blocks. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global research activity in TAP-B, identifying dominant themes, influential contributors, and evolving research frontiers. The findings underscore the significant role of TAP-B in modern regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesic regimens. Furthermore, this study highlights key research areas for future investigation aimed at optimizing the clinical application of TAP-B and its integration into evolving multimodal analgesia strategies.