Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Versus Local Anesthetic for Lap Appendectomies
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01575028 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(The study was allowed to expire due to changes in standard care for the patient population within the NCH institution.)
First Posted : April 10, 2012
Results First Posted : June 1, 2015
Last Update Posted : August 24, 2015
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Appendicitis | Drug: Ropivacaine Drug: Bupivacaine | Phase 2 |
The literature has clearly demonstrated that the effective treatment of postoperative pain in infants and children is challenging. Despite the recognition of the importance of postoperative analgesia and the potential adverse effects of postoperative pain, significant pain occurs during the postoperative period in both the inpatient and outpatients settings. Specifically, appendectomy is one of the most common pediatric surgical procedures and is associated with significant postoperative pain. Additionally, although the use of opioid analgesics is generally safe, adverse effects do occur thereby mandating the use of alternative analgesic techniques when feasible. In an effort to improve postoperative analgesia while limiting opioid-related adverse effects, there continues to be an increased use of multimodal techniques in infants and children. These can include TAP block as well as wound infiltration with local anesthetic. The efficacy of TAP blocks in the setting of laparoscopic appendectomy has been demonstrated in both adult and pediatric populations, however its efficacy in comparison to local anesthetic infiltration is unclear.
The TAP block was first described by McDonnell et al. in 2004 for pain control of procedures involving the anterior abdominal wall. The skin, muscles, and parietal peritoneum in this region are innervated by the T7 through L1 nerve roots. The authors described deposition of local anesthetic in the plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle where the terminal branches of the T7 through L1 nerves lie. Since then, the TAP block has been shown to effectively provide analgesia for a variety of abdominal procedures. In 2007 an ultrasound guided approach was described by Hebbard et al. with a subsequent study concluding that an ultrasound guided TAP block provided superior analgesia than a blind technique.
The frequency of surgical appendectomy in both the inpatient surgical as well as the ambulatory setting justifies this comparison of effective analgesia. This study can certainly change the daily practice of the pediatric anesthesiologist in providing optimal care in patient and family satisfaction, as well as recovery.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 3 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Prospective, Double Blinded, Randomized Comparison of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Versus Local Anesthetic Infiltration for Laparoscopic Appendectomy in the Pediatric Population |
Study Start Date : | October 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | July 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | July 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Local anesthetic infiltration injection
Patients will receive local anesthetic infiltration injected at the surgical site by the surgeon at the end of surgery.
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Drug: Bupivacaine
The local anesthetic at the incision sites will be injected by the surgeon. |
Experimental: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block
Patients will receive a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.
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Drug: Ropivacaine
The TAP block will be delivered with 0.2ml/kg of 0.2% Ropivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine bilaterally |
- Post-operative Pain Relief [ Time Frame: 12 hours post-operatively ]Prospectively compare post-operative pain relief in pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy who have received either a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block or local anesthetic infiltration by the surgeon for analgesia.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | Child, Adult, Older Adult |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- ASA physical status I or II
- Patients > 4 years of age
- Weight less than or equal to 60 kg
- Presenting for laparoscopic appendectomy
Exclusion Criteria:
- ASA physical status > II
- Patients < 4 years of age
- Weight greater than 60 kg
- Patients presenting for ruptured appendectomy surgical procedures
- Co-morbid diseases (cardiac, pulmonary (not including asthma), neurological disease)
- Patients having concomitant procedures (circumcision, orchiopexy, etc.)

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01575028
United States, Ohio | |
Nationwide Children's Hospital | |
Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205 |
Principal Investigator: | Tarun Bhalla, MD | Nationwide Childrens |
Responsible Party: | Tarun Bhalla, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Nationwide Children's Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01575028 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
IRB12-00140 |
First Posted: | April 10, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | June 1, 2015 |
Last Update Posted: | August 24, 2015 |
Last Verified: | July 2015 |
Transversus abdominis plane block TAP block Local anesthetic infiltration Appendectomy Laparoscopic appendectomy |
Appendicitis Intraabdominal Infections Infection Gastroenteritis Gastrointestinal Diseases Digestive System Diseases Cecal Diseases Intestinal Diseases |
Bupivacaine Ropivacaine Anesthetics, Local Anesthetics Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents |