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A Comparative Study of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Efficacy on Post-bariatric vs Aesthetic Abdominoplasty with Flank Liposuction

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Abstract

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block acts on the nerves localised in the anterior abdominal wall muscles. We evaluated the efficacy on post-bariatric (PB) patients undergoing body-contouring abdominoplasty. We retrospectively evaluated PB patients undergoing abdominoplasty with flank liposuction and compared results to a matched group of TAP aesthetic patients. Outcomes evaluated were the analgesic requirements during the early postoperative days. Fifty-one patients (PB n = 27, aesthetic n = 24) were assessed. No complications were observed. All PB patients required analgesia until the second postoperative day contrarily to most aesthetic ones. Patients with greater flap resected and higher pre-abdominoplasty BMI had greater morphine consumptions. In PB patients, the larger amount of tissues resected corresponded to a greater stimulation of pain fibres that cannot be paralleled by a concomitant increase of the local anesthetic administered. This partially invalidates TAP’s efficacy on PB patients.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Road, Bristol, BS16 1LE, UK

    Gianpiero Gravante

  2. Clinica “Santa Maria di Leuca”, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Castrì

  3. Department of Surgery, University Tor Vergata in Rome, Rome, Italy

    Francesco Araco

  4. Istituto “Ninetta Rosano” Clinica Tricarico, Marina di Belvedere Marittimo, Marittimo, Italy

    Antonino Araco

Authors
  1. Gianpiero Gravante
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  2. Francesca Castrì
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  3. Francesco Araco
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  4. Antonino Araco
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Correspondence to Gianpiero Gravante.

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Gravante, G., Castrì, F., Araco, F. et al. A Comparative Study of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Efficacy on Post-bariatric vs Aesthetic Abdominoplasty with Flank Liposuction. OBES SURG 21, 278–282 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0203-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0203-2

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