Robot-assisted vs ultrasonography-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block vs local anaesthesia in urology: results of the UROTAP randomized trial

Daniel C. Rosen, Jared S. Winoker, Greg Mullen, Erin Moshier, Alan Sim, Prachee Pathak, Vinayak Wagaskar, John P. Sfakianos, Avinash Reddy, Michael Palese, Ketan K. Badani, Peter Wiklund, Ashutosh Tewari, Reza Mehrazin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To prospectively analyse robotically administered transperitoneal transversus abdominis plane (robot-assisted transversus abdominis plane [RTAP]) compared with both ultrasonography-guided transversus abdominis plane (UTAP) and local anaesthesia (LA) with regard to pain control and narcotic use in patients undergoing robot-assisted prostatectomy (RARP) or robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN). Subjects/Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing RARP or RAPN were randomized in a single-blind 2:2:1 fashion to RTAP:UTAP:LA, with the study powered to evaluate superiority of UTAP to LA and non-inferiority of RTAP to UTAP. We compared time to deliver the block, operating room time, postoperative pain scores using the visual analogue scale, and intra-operative and postoperative analgesia consumption. Results: A total of 143 patients were randomized and received treatment. There was no significant difference in patient baseline characteristics. UTAP did not demonstrate superiority to LA in terms of pain control. RTAP and LA were faster to administer than UTAP (time to perform block 2.5 vs 2.5 vs 6.25 min; P < 0.001). There was no difference in postoperative narcotic, acetaminophen, ketorolac or ondansetron requirements among the three groups (P > 0.05). The study was terminated early due to the unexpected efficacy of LA. Conclusion: This study showed that UTAP and RTAP do not provide superior pain control to LA. The efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of administration of LA make it an excellent option for first-line therapy for postoperative analgesia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)815-822
Number of pages8
JournalBJU International
Volume130
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • analgesia
  • narcotic
  • pain control
  • regional anaesthesia
  • robotic partial nephrectomy
  • robotic prostatectomy
  • transversus abdominis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Urology

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