Abstract

Pain following surgery contributes to significant morbidity if not properly managed. The present study was aimed at comparing the efficacy of ultrasound guided ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve (IIIHN) block versus transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block Methodology: 60 male patients undergoing unilateral open inguinal hernia repair under spinal anaesthesia were randomized into two groups, IIIHN group (n=30) and TAP group (n=30). IIIHN block/TAP block was performed after completion of surgery with 25 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine and 4 mg dexamethasone as per the group allocation. Postoperative pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) score and haemodynamic parameters were recorded at 0,2,4,6,8,12,16,20 and 24 hours. Time for first rescue analgesia, doses of rescue analgesia (IV diclofenac aqueous) was noted. Results: Patients in IIIHN group had lower VAS score at 6,8 and 12 hrs. Duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in IIIHN group than TAP group. The number of rescue analgesia doses required was significantly less in IIIHN group.

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