Rectus sheath block laparoscopic sterilization

A variety of laparoscopic procedures can be performed on patients under regional anesthesia. Diagnostic laparoscopy in elective and emergency patients, pain mapping, laparoscopy for infertility, and tubal sterilization are some examples. The key benefits of regional anesthesia include less emesis, less postoperative pain, shorter postoperative stay, improved patient satisfaction, and overall safety. Regional techniques, such as rectus sheath blocks, inguinal blocks, and caudal blocks, are useful adjuncts to general anesthesia and facilitate postoperative analgesia...

Thirty patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic sterilisation were allocated at random to receive either a standardised general anaesthetic and rectus sheath block (group A), or standardised general anaesthetic combined with both rectus sheath and mesosalpinx blocks (group B). Group B patients had significantly less postoperative pain, as assessed by linear analogue scores (p less than 0.025), and analgesic requirement (p less than 0.05). By the 8th postoperative hour all 15 group B patients had been discharged from hospital, whilst only seven of 15 patients in group A were considered suitable for discharge at this time, (p less than 0...