Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Plane Block In Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Ultrasound-guided Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Plane Block (M-TAPA) is performed into the costochondral aspect at the 9th-10th costal level by injecting local anesthetics deep into the chondrium. It provides blockage of both the anterior and lateral cutaneous branches of the thoracoabdominal nerve. Studies show that M-TAPA block is effective for postoperative analgesia and other abdominal surgeries, but its effect on patients undergoing LSG surgery has not yet been studied. The hypothesis is that the M-TAPA block performed in patients undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) Operation would reduce opioid consumption in the first 24 hours period after surgery.

LSG is defined as first-line bariatric surgery for patients at high surgical risk with better surgical outcomes. Effective postoperative pain management is essential for early mobilization, and reduction of the risk of morbidity and mortality. Opioids, due to their potent analgesic effects are used as a component of multimodal analgesia in the postoperative period. Despite their advantages, opioids may be related to pulmonary complications such as atelectasis and impaired alveolar gas exchange, apnea; postoperative delayed recovery due to ileus, nausea, and vomiting; and prolonged hospital stay. The use of interfascial plane blocks for pain management has increased recently, as ultrasonography (USG) has become a part of daily routine. Interfascial plane blocks provide effective postoperative analgesia. Additionally, reducing postoperative opioid consumption helps to provide hemodynamic stability and promote early mobilization. Studies are showing M-TAPA block to be effective for postoperative analgesia for abdominal surgeries, and some studies continued comparing its effect in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with other plane blocks. There are also case reports showing the effectiveness of the M-TAPA block in LSG patients. M-TAPA block's effect on LSG patients has not been studied yet. The investigators hypothesize that the M-TAPA block performed in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy would reduce opioid consumption in the first 24-hour period after surgery.