The Effect of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Kidney Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of transversus abdominal (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia after renal transplantation.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database for relevant studies. The related trials that met the inclusion criteria were analysed using RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

We found 15 randomized controlled trials and two retrospective studies that, on meta-analysis, showed that TAP block group had significantly lower requirement of opioid consumption (MD -11.89, 95% CI -17.13∼-6.65) at 24 h for pain mitigation and pain intensity VAS at rest at 6h (MD -1.13, 95% CI -1.76∼-0.49), 12 h (MD -0.83, 95% CI -1.30∼-0.36) and 24 h (MD -0.47, 95% CI -0.75∼-0.20). Also, postoperative nausea and vomiting were not statistically significant (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.78∼1.27).

CONCLUSION

TAP block appears to significantly reduce renal transplantation pain and the amount of opioid use on the first postoperative day after renal transplantation.