Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29952997›Full record

SynthesisMedicine2018

The analgesic efficacy of transverse abdominis plane block versus epidural analgesia: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Moira Baeriswyl, Frank Zeiter, Denis Piubellini, Kyle Robert Kirkham, Eric Albrecht

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 38 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
12.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07271979 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Ropivacaine for Preperitoneal Infiltration Analgesia in Upper Abdominal Laparotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityRan2026 to 2026Enrolled146ConditionsLiposomal Bupivacaine, Preperitoneal Infiltration, AnalgesiaArmsLiposomal bupivacaine, ropivacaine
NCT07388953 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Peripheral Autonomic Block (BAP) Plus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block (TAP) for Postoperative Analgesia After Minimally Invasive Left-Sided Colorectal Resection (BAPTAP): A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorFaculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisRan2026 to 2027Enrolled140ConditionsColorectal Cancer, Colorectal Surgery, Anesthesia, Autonomic Nerve BlockArmsMinimally Invasive Left-Sided Colorectal Resection, BAPTAP (Peripheral Autonomic Blockade + TAP Block), Trocar/Incision Infiltration
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

38 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 93 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Moira BaeriswylDepartment of Anesthesia, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Frank Zeiter
Denis Piubellini
Kyle Robert Kirkham
Eric Albrecht
University of Lausanne · CHUniversity of Toronto · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim of the study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of epidural analgesia and transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block. TAP block has gained popularity to provide postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgery but its advantage over epidural analgesia is disputed.

methodsWe followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Only trials comparing TAP block with epidural analgesia were included. The primary outcome was pain score at rest (analog scale, 0-10) on postoperative day 1 analyzed in subgroups according to the population (children and adults). Secondary outcomes included rate of hypotension, length of stay, and functional outcomes (time to first bowel sound, time to first flatus).

resultsTen controlled trials, including 505 patients (195 children and 310 adults), were identified. Pain scores at rest on postoperative day 1 were equivalent for TAP block and epidural analgesia groups in children (mean difference: 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.1 to 0.6; I = 0%; P = .15) and in adults (mean difference: 0.5; 95% CI: -0.1 to 1.0; I = 81%; P = .10). The quality of evidence for our primary outcome was moderate according to the GRADE system. The epidural analgesia group experienced a higher rate of hypotension (relative risk: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.38; I = 0%; P = .0002), while hospital length of stay was shorter in the TAP block group (mean difference: -0.6 days; 95% CI: -0.9 to -0.3 days; I = 0%; P < .0001), without impact on functional outcomes.

conclusionThere is moderate evidence that TAP block and epidural analgesia are equally effective in treating postoperative pain in both pediatric and adult patients, while TAP block is associated with fewer episodes of hypotension and reduced length of stay.

Indexed as

Abdominal MusclesAdultAnalgesia, EpiduralChildChild, PreschoolHumansHypotensionInfantLength of StayNerve BlockPain MeasurementPostoperative PainTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID29952997
PMCPMC6039642
OpenAlexW2810970946

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.