Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40694119›Full record

SynthesisSurgical endoscopy2025

Laparoscopic-assisted versus ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block for laparoscopic abdominal surgeries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bruno F M Wegner, Gustavo R M Wegner, Henrique Cumming, Gabrielle Henrique, Naieli Andrade, Heidi Cordeiro, Carlos Ferreira, Tatiana Souza do Nascimento

Abstract readComparative StudyMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Surgical endoscopy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Bruno F M WegnerUniversidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Gustavo R M WegnerUniversidade Federal da Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Passo Fundo, Brazil.
Henrique CummingHospital Santo Antônio, Salvador, Brazil.
Gabrielle HenriqueUniversidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Brazil.
Naieli AndradeEscola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública (EBMSP), Salvador, Brazil.
Heidi CordeiroSt Mary's General Hospital, New Jersey, USA.
Carlos FerreiraUniversidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Brazil.
Tatiana Souza do NascimentoDepartment of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, 8481 John Colloton Pavilion, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. tatiana-nascimento@uiowa.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6897-1463

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Transversus Abdominis Plane block, performed using either laparoscopy-assisted or ultrasound-guided techniques, has emerged as a valuable option for managing postoperative pain in laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. Ultrasound guidance improves the accuracy and safety of anaesthetic administration, whereas the laparoscopy-assisted technique enables direct visualization of the injection site and anaesthetic dispersion, potentially increasing precision and reducing performance time. Previous meta-analyses have yielded limited results, largely due to their narrow focus on specific surgeries or heterogeneous study designs.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to compare the effectiveness of LTAP and UTAP in adult patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Databases searched included MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, following PRISMA and Cochrane Handbook guidelines. Eligible studies enrolled adult patients (P) undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery who received LTAP (I) or UTAP (C), with outcomes including postoperative pain and analgesic requirements (O).

resultsThirteen RCTs comprising 1254 patients undergoing cholecystectomy, bariatric surgery, or colorectal surgery were analysed. Laparoscopy-assisted Transversus Abdominis Plane block trended to marginally lower pain scores at 24 h (mean difference - 0.25, 95% confidence interval - 0.51 to 0.02, P = 0.066) and required significantly less time for performance (mean difference - 6.78 min, 95% confidence interval - 8.69 to - 4.87, P < 0.000001). No significant differences were observed in cumulative morphine consumption, time to the first analgesic request, or total surgical duration.

conclusionsBoth techniques provide effective postoperative analgesia. The laparoscopy-assisted approach may provide a procedural efficiency advantage due to shorter performance time. These findings support its application across a range of laparoscopic abdominal surgeries and underscore the need for further research to consolidate these advantages.

Indexed as

AbdomenAbdominal MusclesLaparoscopyNerve BlockPostoperative PainUltrasonography, InterventionalHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAbdominal surgeryLaparoscopic surgeryMeta-analysisPost-operative painRegional anesthesiaTransversus abdominis plane block

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.