Comparison of Epidural and TAP Block in Abdominal Surgery

Comparison of Epidural Analgesia With Bilateral Dual TAP Infiltration Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine in Patients With Major Abdominal Surgery

This study will compare the infiltrative transversusabdominis plane (TAP) block with liposomal bupivacaine to epidural analgesia (EA) in major abdominal surgery . The efficacy of the TAP block for abdominal surgery is well documented in literature, but there are no studies utilizing long-acting bupivacaine. The investigators believe the study will demonstrate no difference between the two in terms of pain scores and opioid consumption, but TAP blocks will decreased costs, urinary retention, and hypotension.

This study intends to examine this rational by comparing the infiltrative transversusabdominis plane (TAP) block with liposomal bupivacaine to EA in major abdominal surgery. The efficacy of the TAP block for abdominal surgery is well documented in the literature, but there are no studies utilizing long-acting bupivacaine. The investigators believe the primary outcome will demonstrate no difference between the two in terms of pain scores and opioid consumption. The investigators anticipate that patients who have undergone TAP blocks will have improved secondary outcomes with respect to a decreased costs, urinary retention, and hypotension.

Inclusion Criteria:

• subject >/= 19 years of age
• Undergoing major abdominal surgery
• able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• chronic opioid use
• allergies to amide anesthetics
• inability to undergo general anesthesia
• pregnancy
• any existence of contraindications to regional anesthesia in the presence of antiplatelet or anticoagulative drugs
• or evidence of gross neurological dysfunction of the lower extremity