Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Laparoscopic Gastric-bypass Surgery

Is the Analgesic Effect of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Laparoscopic Gastric-bypass Surgery Useful?

Laparoscopic gastric-bypass surgery (LGBS) is one of the surgical treatments for morbid obesity, which is performed under general anesthesia. TAP block is an analgesic strategy covering the dermatomes from T6 to L1 and consists of injecting local anesthetic in the TAP between the costal margin and the iliac crest, where the thoracolumbar nerves (T6-L1) are located. As far as the investigators know, this analgesic technique has never been studied in LGBS. The investigators objective is to determine whether an ultrasound (US)-guided TAP block provides improved analgesia during the first 24 hours after laparoscopic gastric-bypass surgery, compared to conventional therapy only.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA physical status I-III
• 18-70 years of age, inclusive
• scheduled for elective laparoscopic gastric-bypass surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• contraindications to regional blockade (e.g., allergy to local anesthetics, coagulopathy, malignancy or infection in the area)
• pregnancy
• history of alcohol or drug dependence/abuse
• history of long term opioid intake or chronic pain disorder
• history of significant psychiatric conditions that may affect patient assessment
• inability to understand the informed consent and demands of the study