Timing of TAP Blocks in Bariatric Surgery

Post-operative pain remains a critical aspect of patients' recovery, with approximately 70% of patients who undergo surgery reporting moderate to severe levels of pain post-operatively. Increased post-operative pain has adverse effects on psychological and physiological function including cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune function and wound healing. In an era where patient centered care is at its peak and healthcare resources are limited, adequate post-operative pain management is crucial. It facilitates early mobilization, reduces the length of stay in hospital and overall costs on the healthcare system.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, a peripheral nerve block, has been shown to significantly reduce postoperative opioid requirements, even in the context of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Furthermore, the literature clearly indicates the benefit of TAP blocks on post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. However, evidence regarding the ideal timing of TAP block administration in the bariatric population is lacking. In current practice, TAP blocks are generally administered after the surgery, and occasionally after induction of anesthesia. However emerging studies suggest that administering TAP blocks at the beginning of a procedure may result in superior recovery and pain control in the immediate period following open and laparoscopic surgery compared to at the end of a procedure.

The purpose of the study is to assess the timing of TAP block administration in bariatric surgery patients on the immediate post-operative recovery period. This will be determined by the amount opioids required in the post-anesthetic recovery unit (PACU). Post-operative pain increases the incidence of nausea/vomiting, oxygen requirements and thus, consequently becoming a major barrier to recovery. If found to be effective, post-induction TAP blocks could become the standard of care for regional anesthesia following laparoscopic bariatric surgery and could reduce intra-operative anesthetic and opioid use, opioid consumption in (PACU), post-operative nausea and vomiting and overall length of stay in PACU. This in turn will improve patient's recovery, reduce delays in PACU and decrease patient's length of stay in the hospital.