Comparison of the postoperative pain outcomes with bilateral ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block versus local anesthetic wound infiltration in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy At Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi.

Objective: To compare the postoperative pain outcomes of bilateral US-guided TAP block versus LA wound infiltration in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Department of Anaesthesiology, Surgical ICU and Pain Management, Dr, Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. Period: Six months April 21, 2022, to October 21, 2022. Methods: Two groups of sixty patients were randomly assigned based on their fulfilment of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quantitative & qualitative data were collected, presented, and analyzed using SPSS. Statistical significance was determined using post-stratification chi-square and independent t-tests, with a p-value of less than or equal to 0.05. Results: In Group T, which received TAP blocks, the average pain score is 4.38 ± 2.35, but in Group L, which received LA blocks, it was 6.4 ± 2.58 (p = 0.001). Mean analgesic consumption was 6.89 ± 3.87 mg in Group T versus 9.78 ± 4.78 mg in Section L (p = 0.001). Group T's mean duration of analgesia (515.9 ± 150.41 min) was noticeably greater than Group L's mean duration (290.7 ± 67.03 min) (p = 0.001). Conclusion: After surgery, bilateral US-guided TAP blocks offer better pain management & longer analgesic duration than LA wound infiltration. On the other hand, LA is still easier to get and cheaper.