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NCT Number: NCT06903182

Preoperative TAP Block Versus Postoperative TAP Block in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the regional anesthesia technique "TAP block" provide more analgesia when performed before or after the surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does preoperative TAP block provide greater analgesia than postoperative TAP block? Patients receiving preoperative TAP block will have less pain and take less painkillers than patients receiving postoperative TAP block?

Participants will:

Receive preoperative or postoperative TAP block They will be asked about their pain levels during the hospital stay.

Recruiting

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Key information

Conditions

TAP Block

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University Hospital of Padua

Padua, Italy, 35127

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Silvia De Pinto

CONTACT

[email protected]

+390498216739

Silvia De Pinto, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

The TAP block is a safe, easy-to-perform, and effective technique for managing postoperative pain. It reduces opioid consumption and increases patient satisfaction. Despite recent studies indicating that postoperative TAP block might be more effective than preoperative TAP block in reducing opioid use within 24 hours, the optimal timing of its administration (before or after surgery) remains unclear.

In this study we will compare preoperative to postoperative TAP block in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecistectomy.

The primary aim of this study is to determine the difference in postoperative pain control between preoperative and postoperative TAP block administration in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The primary objective will be to evaluate the difference in postoperative pain at rest, 24 hours after surgery, between patients receiving preoperative versus postoperative TAP block. Pain will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) from 0 to 10.

Secondary objectives will be intraoperative and postoperative opioids, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain at resnt and on movement at 0,6,12,24 hours.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • ASA I-II patients
  • Age >18 years
  • Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • History of chronic pain
  • Beta-blocker therapy
  • Allergy to the drugs used in the study

Treatment and study plan

Preoperative TAP Block

Procedure

Patients will receive preoperative TAP block

Postoperative TAP block

Procedure

Patients will receive postoperative TAP block

Primary outcomes

  1. Patient reported pain on movement at 24 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 24th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient reported pain on movement (cough) at the end of the surgery

    Time frame: At the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  2. Patient reported pain on rest at the end of the surgery

    Time frame: At the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  3. Patient reported pain on rest at 6 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 6th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  4. Patient reported pain on movement at 6 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 6th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  5. Patient reported pain on rest at 12 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 12th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  6. Patient reported pain on movement at 12 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 12th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  7. Patient reported pain on rest at 24 hours after the surgery

    Time frame: At the 24th hour after the end of the surgery.

    Pain will be assessed with the 11 points NRS scale (0-10)

  8. Difference in intraoperative opioids

    Time frame: From the enrollment to the extubation

    Difference in intraoperative fentanest in micrograms

  9. Difference in postoperative opioids

    Time frame: From the extubation to the 24th postoperative hours

    Difference in postoperative morphine in milligrams

  10. Number of participants experiencing postoperative nausea and vomiting

    Time frame: From extubation to the 24th postoperative hour

    Patients will be asked to report nausea and or vomiting in the postoperative period

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Silvia De Pinto, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+390496739

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Padova

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 30, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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