Intraoperative TAP Block After Repeat Cesarean

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a well-described technique to provide a field block for analgesia. It has been shown to be effective in postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery. TAP blocks are commonly performed post-operatively by anesthesiologists using liposomal bupivacaine with ultrasound guidance. Liposomal bupivacaine is an FDA approved medication for post-surgical analgesia and available at UMass-Memorial Medical Center. Liposomal bupivacaine provides sustained release of medication for up to 120 hours. A recent multicenter randomized controlled trial demonstrated the efficacy of anesthesiologist administered TAP blocks using liposomal bupivacaine after cesarean delivery. Infiltration of the skin and fascia with liposomal bupivacaine after cesarean did not have an effect and this can be explained by the path that the pain fibers take through the TAP which makes them amenable to a TAP block while a superficial infiltration is ineffective.The aim of this study is to perform a randomized trial to investigate if intraoperative surgeon administered TAP block reduces pain and use of oral and parenteral pain medications after repeat cesarean delivery. The investigators aim to compare surgeon administered TAP block with liposomal bupivacaine compared to standard treatment (i.e. no TAP block) with regard to the primary outcome of post-operative narcotic use.