The Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Chronic Pain Experienced After Inguinal Hernia Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to see how efficient ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block was on the incidence of chronic postoperative pain developing after inguinal hernia surgery. Methods: The records of patients who had unilateral elective grafted inguinal hernia surgery with the Lichtenstein procedure under general anesthesia between July 2018 and October 2019 were examined retrospectively. The patients were placed into two groups (total=70): those who did not receive intraoperative TAP block (Group 1, n=38) and those who received (Group 2, n=32). The patients were contacted by phone 6 months after the procedure, and it was learned and recorded whether they had chronic pain before the operation, the nature of the pain if any, whether it limited their daily activities or not. The Numerical Rating Scale was used to measure chronic pain, and values of 3 and above were considered chronic pain. Results: This study comprised a total of 70 participants, with 38 patients in Group 1 and 32 patients in Group 2. Patients with chronic pain incidence in the postoperative 6th month (n=21) accounted for 30% of all patients. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding chronic pain development [Group 1 (n=14, 36.8% ), Group 2 (n=7, 21.8%)]. It was observed that the patients’ pain was predominantly in the burning style. Conclusion: We concluded that the ultrasound-guided TAP block had no significant effect on the development of chronic pain. Keywords: Postoperative chronic pain, transversus abdominis plane block, inguinal herniorrhaphy