SATISFACTORY RATE AMONG WOMEN OF LOWER SEGMENT CAESAREAN SECTION AFTER GIVING LOCAL ANESTHESIA/ANALGESIA (TAPS)

Abstract

Background: Maternal recovery after lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) depends on efficient post-operative pain management. Conventional opioid-based pain management may have negative side effects that make recovery more difficult. An increasingly popular regional anesthetic method with fewer adverse effects is the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block. In a Pakistani tertiary care context, this study assesses the recovery, pain management, and patient satisfaction of women who underwent LSCS with TAP block anesthesia.

Methods: A prospective cross sectional research was carried out on 57 patients who had LSCS while being sedated with TAP block. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to quantify pain at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Adverse effects, early mobility, and overall patient satisfaction were evaluated using structured interviews. SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis, and means, percentages, and standard deviations were used to present the findings.

Results: Pain scores averaged 2.5, 3.0, and 2.8 on the VAS scale at 6, 12, and 24 hours post-surgery, respectively. Most patients (75%) did not require additional analgesia within the first 12 hours. Patient satisfaction was high, with 85% reporting satisfaction or high satisfaction with pain management. Early ambulation was observed in 68% of patients within 8 hours post-surgery. Mild adverse effects, including nausea and dizziness, were reported by 12% of patients. No serious complications were observed.

Conclusion: The TAP block effectively manages post-operative pain in LSCS, providing sustained pain relief, early recovery, and minimal adverse effects. These findings support the integration of TAP blocks into routine obstetric anesthesia protocols to enhance maternal outcomes and patient satisfaction. Further research on larger populations can provide more robust evidence for its broader application