M-TAPA vs. Combined M-TAPA + EXOP for Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery

NCT ID: NCT07264855

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

86 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-10-06

Study Completion Date

2026-10-31

Brief Summary

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Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is less invasive than open surgery, but many patients still experience pain after the procedure. M-TAPA and EXOP are ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques used to reduce abdominal pain. Previous research suggests that M-TAPA provides effective pain relief on the anterior abdominal wall, while EXOP may help reduce pain in the lateral abdominal region. This study aims to determine whether combining M-TAPA with EXOP provides better postoperative pain control than using M-TAPA alone. The study will compare pain scores during the first 24 hours after surgery, the need for rescue analgesic medication, and recovery quality using the QoR-15 questionnaire. All procedures are part of routine clinical care, and no experimental drugs or devices are used.

Detailed Description

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In routine practice at our institution, anesthesia clinicians performing gynecologic laparoscopic procedures administer either modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through perichondrial approach (M-TAPA Block) alone or a combination of M-TAPA and external oblique muscle plane (EXOP) blocks, based solely on individual clinician preference. The researcher does not influence this decision. Among the eligible patients, those receiving either M-TAPA or M-TAPA + EXOP will be included and evaluated observationally. Block types other than these two will not be included.

All postoperative visits and clinical follow-ups are routinely conducted by the hospital's pain management team. The researcher does not intervene in these clinical processes and is only responsible for obtaining informed consent, recording demographic variables, documenting the type of block performed, administering the QoR-15 questionnaire, and evaluating sensory block distribution using the pinprick test.

Preoperative evaluation and necessary laboratory testing are carried out according to standard hospital practice by the attending anesthesiologist. The researcher obtains informed consent, records demographic data, and administers the preoperative QoR-15 questionnaire.

In the operating room, standard monitoring (non-invasive blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, and oxygen saturation) is applied, intravenous access is established, and crystalloid infusion is initiated. Anesthesia induction is performed using propofol, an opioid, and a neuromuscular blocking agent, followed by endotracheal intubation. General anesthesia is maintained with sevoflurane in an oxygen-air mixture. Laparoscopic surgery is performed with gradual CO₂ insufflation, maintaining intra-abdominal pressure below 12 mmHg.

For postoperative analgesia, all patients routinely receive 1 g intravenous paracetamol and 100 mg tramadol. After surgery, neuromuscular blockade is reversed and patients are transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

After surgery, patients are monitored in the PACU and transferred to the ward once their Aldrete score is ≥9. All patients receive 1 g intravenous paracetamol every 8 hours as per routine protocol. Postoperative pain is assessed by the pain team using the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are assessed and intravenous ondansetron 4 mg is administered for PONV ≥2. Patients without PONV are encouraged to mobilize early and resume oral intake. Discharge is permitted once symptoms resolve; however, all patients remain hospitalized for at least 24 hours.

As an additional study-related procedure, the researcher evaluates dermatomal spread using the pinprick test and administers the QoR-15 questionnaire at 24 hours.

Conditions

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Postoperative Pain Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery

Keywords

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M-TAPA block External Oblique Plane Block (EXOP) Postoperative pain Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Group M

Participants who received a bilateral M-TAPA block performed pre-extubation as part of routine anesthesia practice.

Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A bilateral modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) is performed under ultrasound guidance in the supine position prior to extubation as part of routine clinical practice. After aseptic preparation, a linear ultrasound probe is positioned at the level of the 10th rib in the sagittal plane. The needle is advanced to the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. Following negative aspiration and confirmation of correct plane identification with hydrodissection, 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine is injected bilaterally (total volume 40 mL). The procedure is performed by anesthesiologists experienced in gynecologic surgery, without researcher involvement in clinical decision-making

Group E

Participants who received a combined bilateral M-TAPA block and external oblique plane (EXOP) block performed pre-extubation as part of routine anesthesia practice.

Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach And External Oblique Muscle Plane Block

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Following completion of the bilateral M-TAPA block, an external oblique muscle plane (EXOP) block is performed under ultrasound guidance as part of routine clinical practice. The ultrasound probe is positioned over the lateral abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest. After negative aspiration and confirmation of correct plane identification with hydrodissection, 20 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine is injected on each side into the fascial plane superficial to the external oblique muscle (total volume 80 mL).

Interventions

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Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach

A bilateral modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) is performed under ultrasound guidance in the supine position prior to extubation as part of routine clinical practice. After aseptic preparation, a linear ultrasound probe is positioned at the level of the 10th rib in the sagittal plane. The needle is advanced to the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles. Following negative aspiration and confirmation of correct plane identification with hydrodissection, 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine is injected bilaterally (total volume 40 mL). The procedure is performed by anesthesiologists experienced in gynecologic surgery, without researcher involvement in clinical decision-making

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach And External Oblique Muscle Plane Block

Following completion of the bilateral M-TAPA block, an external oblique muscle plane (EXOP) block is performed under ultrasound guidance as part of routine clinical practice. The ultrasound probe is positioned over the lateral abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest. After negative aspiration and confirmation of correct plane identification with hydrodissection, 20 mL of 0.125% bupivacaine is injected on each side into the fascial plane superficial to the external oblique muscle (total volume 80 mL).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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M-TAPA Block M-TAPA + EXOP Block

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients scheduled for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery
* Age 18-90 years
* ASA physical status I-III

Exclusion Criteria

* Contraindications to block procedures (coagulopathy, anticoagulant therapy, local infection at needle insertion site, etc.)
* Severe cardiac, renal, hepatic, hematologic, neurologic, or psychiatric disease
* Allergy to amide-type local anesthetics
* Chronic pain, narcotic or alcohol dependence
* BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²
* Pregnancy
* Refusal to participate
* Conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

90 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Güneş Özlem Yıldız

Associate Professor, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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SBÜ Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi

Istanbul, Bakirkoy, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Şeyma Nur Güner Zengin, MD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +90 212 414 71 71

Email: [email protected]

Güneş Özlem Yıldız, Associate Professor

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +90 212 414 71 71

Email: [email protected]

References

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Liu S, Wang Z, Long X, Fleishman A, Huang X, Wu Q, Gershman B, Olumi AF. Single black men have the worst prognosis with localized prostate cancer. Can J Urol. 2022 Feb;29(1):10992-11002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35150221 (View on PubMed)

Tulgar S, Selvi O, Thomas DT, Deveci U, Ozer Z. Modified thoracoabdominal nerves block through perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) provides effective analgesia in abdominal surgery and is a choice for opioid sparing anesthesia. J Clin Anesth. 2019 Aug;55:109. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2019.01.003. Epub 2019 Jan 9. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30639940 (View on PubMed)

Atsumi C, Aikawa K, Takahashi K, Okada K, Morimoto Y. The comparison of postoperative analgesic requirements between modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through perichondrial approach versus wound infiltration analgesia in patients undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery: a retrospective, exploratory study. JA Clin Rep. 2023 Jun 24;9(1):39. doi: 10.1186/s40981-023-00632-w.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37354282 (View on PubMed)

Gan TJ. Poorly controlled postoperative pain: prevalence, consequences, and prevention. J Pain Res. 2017 Sep 25;10:2287-2298. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S144066. eCollection 2017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29026331 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2025/312

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id