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TAP Block or Wound Infiltration for Laparoscopic Pediatric Appendectomy: a Pilot Study

TAP Block or Wound Infiltration for Laparoscopic Pediatric Appendectomy: Prospective Randomized Study

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04294537
Enrollment
20
Registered
2020-03-04
Start date
2020-03-30
Completion date
2020-05-30
Last updated
2020-03-04

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

Conditions

Anesthesia, Conduction, Appendectomy, Child, Preschool, Laparoscopy

Keywords

TAP Block, Wound Infiltration, Laparoscopic Appendectomy, Levobupivacaine, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Anesthesia

Brief summary

Effectiveness of the TAP block compared to wound infiltration in controlling pain after laparoscopic appendectomy in children

Detailed description

Laparoscopic appendectomy is one of the main emergency surgical procedures performed in children. The available local anesthesia techniques include wound infiltration or wall blocks such as the TAP (transversus abdominis plane) block. The greater evidence on the adult population suggests that both techniques are valid for pain control in the immediate postoperative period, although wall blocks can guarantee a more prolonged analgesic effect over time. The evidence on the pediatric population, on the other hand, is less strong and sometimes conflicting: therefore, the objective of our study is to verify the efficacy of TAP block compared to wound infiltration in the control of postoperative pain after appendectomy in pediatric patients.

Interventions

PROCEDURETAP Block

At the end of surgery patients will receive bilateral ultrasound-guided single-shot TAP block: 0,15% levobupivacaine 0,75 mg/kg per side will be injected between internal oblique and transveralis fascia

PROCEDURELIA local infiltration

At the end of surgery 0,5% levobupivacaine 1.5 mg/kg, equally distributed between ports, injected in the skin and subcutaneous tissue during wound closure.

PROCEDUREGeneral anesthesia

General anesthesia will be induced with fentanyl 1,5 mcg/kg, propofol 2 mg/kg, rocuronium 0,6 mg/kg; after intubation anesthesia will be mantained with sevoflurane (MAC 1). 30 minutes after induction will be administered paracetamol 15 mg/kg iv.

DRUGPostperative analgesia

During first 48 hours after surgery all patients wil receive paracetamol 15 mg/kg iv every 8 hours and ibuprofen 10 mg/kg orally (or through gastric tube) every 12 hours after surgery. In case of severe pain tramadol 0,5 mg/kg will be administered iv every 8 hours.

Sponsors

Ospedale di Circolo - Fondazione Macchi
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 16 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged between 3 and 16 years, candidates for laparoscopic appendectomy for suspected acute appendicitis. * ASA physical status Class I and II * Informed consent signed by parents / legal guardians

Exclusion criteria

* severe obesity (BMI\> 95th percentile for age and weight) * perforated appendicitis * paralytic ileum * non-stabilized neuropathies * allergy to local anesthetics or analgesics used in the study protocol. * patients on chronic opiate treatment * need for perioperative hospitalization in intensive care with sedation and / or mechanical ventilation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative pain at 2 hours2 hoursDifference in pain severity (assessed by Wong Baker for under 8 year and visual analog scale dor older than 8) of TAP block goup compared to wound infiltration group 2 hours after the end of the surgery.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative pain at 4-12-24 hoursfrom 4 to 24 postoperative hoursDifference in pain severity (assessed by Wong Baker for under 8 year and visual analog scale dor older than 8) of TAP block goup compared to wound infiltration group 4 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours from the end of the surgery.
Total opioid consumptionfrom 2 to 24 postoperative hoursDifferences in tramadol rescue use (expressed in mg/kg) in the TAP group compared to the LIA group
time to first opioid analgesic rescuefrom 2 to 24 postoperative hoursDifferences in the elapsed time before first request for tramadol rescue in the TAP group compared to the LIA group
Side effectsfrom 2 to 24 postoperative hoursDifferences in the incidence of side effects depending on the anesthetic technique adopted

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026