Assessment of the analgesic potency of ropivacaine 0.2% versus ropivacaine 0.5% in transversus abdominis plane block after cesarean delivery

Background
Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block provides sensory block from T6 to L1. It is one of the most widely used regional analgesic techniques and important component of multimodal approach for postoperative analgesia in multiple lower abdominal surgeries.
Objective
To compare between the analgesic potency of ropivacaine 0.2% and ropivacaine 0.5% when used in transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for post operative analgesia after cesarean delivery.
Patients and methods
Fifty parturients with American society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I or II aged between 25 and 35 years undergoing cesarean delivery with general anesthesia were included in this prospective, randomized, double blind study. They were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the concentration of ropivacaine used in TAP block. The 1st group received bilateral 20 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine while the 2nd received the same volume of 0.5% ropivacaine at the end of the surgery. Intensity of postoperative pain at rest and during movement, time to 1st analgesic request, total dose of tramadol used, time to 1st mobilization from bed, parturients satisfaction of pain management, and complications of TAP block were recorded.
Results
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest and during movement, time to 1st analgesic request, total dose of tramadol, time to 1st mobilization from bed, patients satisfaction of pain management were comparable between the two groups.
Conclusion
Ropivacaine 0.2% when used in TAP block provided postoperative analgesia similar to ropivacaine 0.5% in TAP block after cesarean delivery.