Transversus Abdominis Plane and Rectus Sheath Block for Robotic Colectomy

May 30, 2026 updated by: Wei-Cheng Tseng, Tri-Service General Hospital

Impact of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Combined With Rectus Sheath Block on Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Elective Robotic Colectomy

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane block combined with rectus sheath block on postoperative pain and recovery after robotic colectomy under an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Postoperative pain remains an important concern after robotic colectomy despite the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols. Although robotic colectomy is associated with smaller incisions and faster recovery than conventional open surgery, postoperative pain may still impair early ambulation, gastrointestinal recovery, and patient satisfaction. Multimodal analgesia strategies, including acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are commonly used in ERAS pathways to reduce opioid consumption and opioid-related adverse effects. However, postoperative pain during movement and opioid requirements remain clinically relevant issues.

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been reported to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after colorectal surgery. In addition, rectus sheath block (RSB) may provide further analgesic benefit for midline abdominal incision pain. Nevertheless, the additional clinical benefit of combining TAP block and RSB in patients undergoing robotic colectomy within an established ERAS pathway has not been fully investigated.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block combined with RSB on postoperative pain and recovery following robotic colectomy. Additionally, we investigated the influence of TAP block combined with RSB on postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative nausea and vomiting, early ambulation, gastrointestinal recovery, and length of hospital stay after robotic colectomy under ERAS management.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients scheduled for elective robotic colorectal cancer surgery for the first time

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age < 18 years or age > 80 years
  • Allergic to any medication in the protocol
  • Infection over the injection site
  • Chronic pain history
  • Severe hepatic or renal insufficiency
  • Pregnancy
  • Emergency surgery
  • Refusal to join the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: TAP+RSB-R group
TAP+RS block with ropivacaine and standard analgesic care
Drug: Ropivacaine
TAP+RS block using ropivacaine
Placebo Comparator: TAP+RSB-S group
TAP+RS block with saline and standard analgesic care
Drug: Saline
TAP+RS block with saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Visual Analogue Scale at Resting
Time Frame: Postoperative 48 hours
Postoperative 48 hours
Visual Analogue Scale at Movement
Time Frame: Postoperative 48 hours
Postoperative 48 hours
Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Time Frame: Postoperative 48 hours
Postoperative 48 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Postoperative Adverse Event
Time Frame: From surgery until hospital discharge
From surgery until hospital discharge
Time to First Ambulation
Time Frame: From surgery until hospital discharge
From surgery until hospital discharge
Time to First Flatus
Time Frame: From surgery until hospital discharge
From surgery until hospital discharge
Hospital Stay
Time Frame: At hospital discharge
At hospital discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Tri-Service General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • C202605053

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to share

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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