Efficacy of local anaesthetic transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks in laparoscopic colorectal surgery

A double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial investigating the use of levobupivicaine transversus abdominis blocks for colorectal laparoscopic surgery

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN22165762

Enrollment

100

Registered

2008-11-04

Start date

2009-02-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Surgery for colorectal diseases Surgery Colorectal surgery

Interventions

1. Intervention group: transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) The skin will be prepared with 0.5% chlorhexidine solution spray in 70% v/v BEB. A high frequency (5 - 10 MHz) ultrasound machine (Titan

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Men and women, over the age of 18 years 2. Receiving any type of elective, laparoscopic colorectal surgery for benign or malignant disease 3. Operations conducted at Worthing Hospital, West Sussex, by any of the colorectal surgeons

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients under the age of 18 years 2. Undergoing open or emergency surgery 3. A history of renal failure, coagulopathies or allergy to levobupivicaine 4. Reoperations for complications 5. Previous abdominal surgery 6. Not undergoing colorectal surgery 7. Patients in which an intentional stoma is to be fashioned 8. Refusal to participate

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Post-operative morphine requirement measured in mg via a patient controlled system and analysed according to mg/kg, assessed according to usage at 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the patient wakes up from the anaesthetic.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Total hospital stay (MM), documented at discharge 2. Pain scores on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and categorical scoring system at rest and on movement (defined as going from a supine to sitting position) or coughing. VAS pain scores and categorical scoring system scores will be taken at 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the patient wakes, and upon waking up on PACU. 3. Time to first analgesia bolus, documented on the PCA pump	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Total hospital stay (MM), documented at discharge 2. Pain scores on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and categorical scoring system at rest and on movement (defined as going from a supine to sitting position) or coughing. VAS pain scores and categorical scoring system scores will be taken at 1, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the patient wakes, and upon waking up on PACU. 3. Time to first analgesia bolus, documented on the PCA pump

—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026