Analgesic Efficacy of Surgeon-administered Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks for Caesarean Section.
Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate whether or not adding a Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAP block) improves pain control for patients having a cesarean section. A TAP block is a type of nerve block where at the end of the surgery an injection of a long acting local anesthetic is made into the abdominal wall. In studies in patient's having other abdominal surgeries this has reduced the amount of narcotics patients need for pain control. This may also led to patients being more active after surgery and maybe spending less time in hospital.
Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: Female
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:
• ASA status II to III
• All patients undergoing elective CS under regional anesthesia at any gestational age.
Locations
Other Locations
Canada
University of Calgary
RECRUITING
Calgary
Contact Information
Primary
Stephen Wood, MD
slwood@ucalgary.ca
4039441438
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-02-19
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-12
Participants
Target number of participants: 80
Treatments
Experimental: Surgeon-administered Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAP block)
After uterine closure, the anterior abdominal wall on the contralateral side to the surgeon is elevated and retracted laterally by an assistant. The bowel and uterus is retracted using the surgeon's non-dominant hand, with or without a sponge. Under direct visualization, a blunted spinal needle is inserted lateral to the rectus muscle to avoid injury to inferior epigastric blood vessels. The needle is then gently advanced through the transversus abdominis fascia into the TAP plane, identified at loss of resistance, or 'a pop'. After aspiration to confirm no accidental placement of the needle intravascularly, local anaesthetic is infiltrated into the transverse abdominis plane through the parietal peritoneum by the surgeon at a prespecified dose of 0.25% bupivicaine 0.25 mL/kg (approximately 20cc). This is repeated on the contralateral side, after which closure of the fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and skin were performed.
No_intervention: No TAP block
A sham procedure will not be performed but the patient will be unaware of whether or not an injection was done.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: University of Calgary