Evaluation of Effectiveness of Preemptive Intravenous Analgesics versus Postoperative TAP Block in Unilateral Inguinal Hernioplasty—A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract Aim  The aim of this study was to compare the extent of analgesia in terms of duration of analgesia and requirement of postoperative analgesics with preemptive analgesia and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing inguinal hernioplasty. Materials and Methods  Ninety male patients aged between 18 and 65 years of American Society of Anesthesiologists grades I and II undergoing open inguinal hernioplasty were randomly allocated to three comparable groups of 30 each. Control group (group C) received normal saline; preemptive group (group P) received inj. paracetamol, inj. diclofenac, and inj. Lignocaine; and TAP group (group T) received TAP block with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of surgery. Parameters recorded were verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) at rest at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours and VNRS on movement at 12, 24, and 48 hours; heart rate and mean arterial pressure at 0, 4, 12, and 48 hours; time for first analgesic request; and total doses of analgesics consumed at 24 hours. Results  Demographic data were comparable. VNRS on movement and number of doses of analgesics consumed at 24 hours were statistically less in group T (4.80 ± .761 hours); time for first request of analgesia was longer and this group had better patient satisfaction scores compared with other groups. Conclusion  Both groups P and T provided better VNRS scores compared with group C. TAP block provided better VNRS scores on movement at 24 hours, lesser analgesic requirement, and better patient satisfaction score compared with other groups.