Visually guided TAP block during laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair
Official title: Efficacy of Visually Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Recovery After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair (TAPP - Transabdominal Preperitoneal)
Run by University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn · NCT07264699 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether giving a TAP nerve block under direct laparoscopic vision during elective TAPP inguinal hernia repair reduces postoperative pain and speeds recovery in adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Olsztyn, Warmisko-mazurskie) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 4, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | March 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 17, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07264699 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–80 scheduled for elective laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair with ASA I–III who can give informed consent and have no contraindications to regional anesthesia are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with recurrent or strangulated hernias, emergency surgery, chronic pain or preoperative opioid use, allergy to local anesthetics, severe hepatic or renal impairment, psychiatric inability to consent, or those converted to open surgery are unlikely to benefit from the protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center, prospective, randomized study will enroll 100 adults scheduled for elective laparoscopic TAPP inguinal hernia repair and randomize them 1:1 to receive a bilateral visually guided TAP block or no block. In the intervention group surgeons will inject 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine on each side under direct laparoscopic vision after pneumoperitoneum is established, while the control group will undergo the same operation without the TAP block. All participants receive standardized anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, and pain will be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale at 0, 6, and 12 hours after surgery. The trial will be conducted at the University Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn, Poland, between 2025 and 2027 to determine whether the visually guided approach improves early pain control and recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce early postoperative pain and opioid needs, helping patients mobilize and recover sooner after laparoscopic hernia repair.
How similar studies have gone: Ultrasound-guided TAP blocks have repeatedly shown reductions in postoperative pain in abdominal surgery, and laparoscopic-guided TAP is a newer technique with promising but less extensive evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-80 years * Elective laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair using the TAPP (Transabdominal Preperitoneal) technique * ASA physical status I-III * Ability to provide written informed consent * No contraindications to regional anesthesia or local anesthetic administration Exclusion Criteria: * Recurrent or strangulated inguinal hernia * Emergency surgery * Chronic pain syndromes or preoperative opioid use * Known allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics (bupivacaine or similar) * Severe hepatic or renal impairment * Psychiatric disorders or inability to provide informed consent * Conversion to open surgery during the procedure * Technical difficulties preventing TAP block administration
Where it's running
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University Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn, Department of General and Oncological Surgery
Olsztyn, Warmisko-mazurskie, Poland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Marek Kowalczyk, PhD, MD — Clinic of Oncological and General Surgery, University Clinical Hospital in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
- Study coordinator: Łukasz Dyśko, MD
- Email: lukaszdysko@gmail.com
- Phone: +48895245341
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.