Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Children Undergoing Open Pyeloplasty Surgery

The Hospital for Sick Children32 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in reducing postoperative opioid requirements and pain after open pyeloplasty surgery in children.

Primary open pyeloplasty is a common elective surgical procedure at The Hospital for Sick Children. All children are given fentanyl plus local anesthetic wound infiltration for intraoperative analgesia. A retrospective audit demonstrated that 63% of children required additional opioid treatment in the early recovery period following surgery. Concern exists regarding potential side effects of opioids including nausea or vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus, over-sedation and delayed transition to oral intake. More importantly, children may under-report their pain or pain may not be recognized by medical staff leading to inadequate provision of analgesia. This suggests that the use of a regional technique, such as a TAP block, may benefit children undergoing open pyeloplasty. The ultrasound guided TAP block introduces a local anaesthetic to the transversus abdominis plane which is one of three muscle layers in the abdominal wall. This results in a block of the nerves leading to the abdominal wall thereby reducing pain sensations.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Anesthesia

Interventions

Transversus Abdominis Plane BlockPROCEDURE

A block needle will be advanced in a medial to lateral direction until the tip is visualized in the transversus abdominis plane. After negative aspiration 0.4 ml/kg of bupivacaine 0.25% with 1:200 000 epinephrine will be injected. The total dose of bupivacaine will not exceed 2 mg/kg and the total volume will not be more than 20 ml.

Standard AnesthesiaPROCEDURE

Local field infiltration with bupivacaine 0.25% with 1:200 000 epinephrine 0.4 ml/kg before skin incision.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 1 MonthMax age: 6 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification score 1-3 * age 1 month to 6 years inclusive Exclusion Criteria: * children undergoing an additional surgical procedure at an anatomical location not covered by a unilateral TAP block during the same anesthetic * children in whom a TAP block is contraindicated, i.e. surgical scar or distorted anatomy at the site of injection * postoperative admission to the intensive care unit * children with a known allergy to bupivacaine * children with a history of chronic abdominal pain requiring opioid analgesics * children with known renal insufficiency * children with known impaired hepatic function * children with known impaired cardiac function * children known hypersensitivity to sodium metabisulfite

Locations (1)

The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Requirement for Morphine Post-surgery.

The primary outcome measure will be the count and percentage of children who require morphine in the recovery room.

Time frame: Time in recovery room, approximately 60-90 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes

Total Amount of Morphine (mg/kg) Administered in the Recovery Room.

Patients will receive intravenous morphine 0.05 mg/kg if the FLACC is ≥ 3/10 (equivalent to mild-to-moderate pain). Morphine may be given at 10 minute intervals as per standard protocol until the FLACC score is \< 3/10, or the child declines additional pain medicine when offered.

Time frame: Time in recovery room, approximately 60-90 minutes.

Assessment of First Pain Score on Arrival to Recovery Room.

Pain scores will be assessed using the Faces-Legs-Activity-Cry-Consolibility (FLACC) scale for children ≤ 7 years old. The FLACC scale is from 0-10 (0=no pain, 10=worst pain). The scale is composed of five subscales (Faces = facial expression; Legs = lower extremity movement; Activity = degree of movement; Cry = how upset the child is; Consolibity = how easy the child can be consoled). Eacg subscale is rated 0 to 2 (0 = rated as comfortable, no or minimal discomfort for that subscale; 2 = rated as uncomfortable, in pain according to that subscale). The subscales are summed to give a composite score out of 10. Pain scores will be assessed at admission to the recovery room.

Time frame: On arrival to recovery room.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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