Comparison of TAP and II/IH Nerve Blocks for Postoperative Analgesia in Abdominal Surgeries under Spinal Anesthesia.

Background: Managing pain after lower abdominal surgery is important for smooth recovery. Regional anesthesia techniques, like the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and ilioinguinal-iliohypogastric (II/IH) nerve block, help reduce opioid use. This study compares the effectiveness of these two blocks in pain control, time to first rescue dose, hemodynamic stability, and side effects. Materials and Methods: A comparative study was done on 100 patients having lower abdominal surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 50): Received bilateral TAP block with 20 ml of 0.375% ropivacaine per side. Group B (n = 50): Received bilateral II/IH block with the same drug and volume. Pain scores (VAS) were noted at different time points up to 48 hours. Time to first rescue analgesia, vitals, and side effects were recorded. Results: VAS scores at 4 to 24 hours were lower in the TAP group. Time to first rescue dose was longer in the TAP Group A (9.35 ± 0.47 hours) vs. the II/IH Group B (6.97 ± 1.16 hours). Hemodynamics and side effects were similar. Conclusion: TAP block offers better pain relief and longer duration than II/IH block in abdominal surgeries.