Laparoscopic-guided psoas blockade as a novel analgesic method during inguinal herniorrhaphy: a clinical trial.

Abstract

Under laparoscopic guidance, block of ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves can be possible with anesthetic injection in the plane between psoas major and the fasciae covering its anterior aspects [laparoscopic-assisted psoas (LAP) blockade]. This observer-blinded trial aimed to compare the opioid-sparing effect of LAP block with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block after laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy. Forty-five male patients were randomly assigned to receive LAP block, group LAP (n = 23), or ultrasound-guided TAP block, group TAP (n = 22). Primary outcome measure was the analgesic requirements in the first 36 post-operative hours. Post-operative pain scores and sensory blockade were recorded. Median (interquartile range) total morphine requirement was significantly less in patients who underwent LAP blockade 0 (0, 4) than in patients who underwent TAP blockade 21 (10, 27; P < 0.001). LAP group showed significantly less pain at rest and on coughing compared with TAP group. The median number of dermatomes blocked was 3 (2-4) in LAP group and 3 (3-4) in TAP group (P < 0.05). The highest sensory-level blockade was at T12 (T11-L1) in LAP group, while it was at T10 (T10-T11) in TAP group. The most distal dermatome involvement was at L2 (L2-L2) in LAP group and at L1 (T12-L1) in TAP group. A single injection LAP blockade significantly reduces the post-operative analgesic requirements and provides longer pain relief compared with TAP block after laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy.