Natalie Pozzi, Landon Guntman, MD, Logan Brady, Phillip Corvo. Saint Mary’s Hospital
Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to optimize recovery and reduce hospital length of stay. Adverse effects from long-acting medications such as opioids, sedatives, and hypnotics slow recovery. This study aims to assess the impact of the addition of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block as a component of non-opioid pain management for elective colorectal surgery patients at a community hospital.
Method(s): A retrospective chart review was performed from October 2015 – December 2016 for all adult patients undergoing general anesthesia and elective colon resection. Patients who received TAP blocks in addition to general anesthesia were compared to patients who received general anesthesia alone. Length of stay was calculated for each patient from time of admission to discharge from the hospital.
Results: Thirty-four patients who were treated with TAP block were compared to 32 patients who received conventional care. Length of stay was 25 hours shorter (P = 0.02) for patients who received general anesthesia with a TAP block compared to patients who received general anesthesia only. Additionally, compared with other surgeons at our institution, those following the established ERAS protocol with the addition of TAP block had an average length of stay shortened by 31 hours (P = 0.07).
Conclusions: As part of the ERAS protocol, TAP blocks using liposomal bupivacaine significantly reduce hospital length of stay in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 91794
Program Number: P296
Presentation Session: Poster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster