Comparison of the postoperative analgesic efficacy of ultrasonography-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plan block and recto-intercostal fascial plan block in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Aim: Severe postoperative pain is observed in patients following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Currently, peripheral nerve blocks, which are a part of multimodal analgesia, are widely used in postoperative pain management. This study investigated the effects of subcostal transversus abdominis plane nerve block (STAP), recto-intercostal fascial plane block (RIFPB) on postoperative NRS scores and tramadol consumption. Material and method: This study was designed as a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial. Seventy-two patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. One group received a bilateral STAP block (group S, n=35), while the other group received a bilateral recto-intercostal fascial plan block (RIFPB) (group R, n=35). For the peripheral nerve blocks, STAP was administered with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine per side, RIFPB with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine per side. These blocks were performed after the surgery but before the termination of general anesthesia. The postoperative NRS scores and tramadol consumption were compared between the groups. Results: The groups were similar in terms of ASA scores and demographic characteristics. The rates of dermatomal involvement at the midclavicular line at T5 and T10 in the 2nd postoperative hour were found to be statistically significantly different between the groups (P=0.01 and P=0.044, respectively). Additionally, a statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of T6–T9 dermatomal involvement at the midaxillary line at both the 2nd and 24th postoperative hours (P<.001). A statistically significant difference was also found between the groups regarding the time to mobilization (P=0.005). Furthermore, postoperative nausea and vomiting scores at hour 0 differed significantly between the groups (P=0.046). Conclusion: In laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures, both the STAP block and the RIFPB are effective in postoperative pain management. RIFPB may provide more effective analgesia compared to the STAP block alone, as it also targets the lateral cutaneous branches of the abdominal nerves in addition to those innervated by the STAP block. Keywords: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Postoperative pain, Transversus abdominis plane block, Recto-intercostal fascial plane block