Background and Review of Literature: Caesarean sections are one of the most performed procedures in the operating room. Managing pain for these patients is vital to ensure a positive birthing experience for mothers and facilitating bonding post-surgery. Regional anesthesia, specifically transabdominal plane (TAP) blocks, have shown to improve pain perception and reduce the need for opioid pain medications.

Purpose: This DNP project was designed to validate that performing TAP blocks on patients who have a caesarean section reduce the need for rescue pain medications. Reducing the need for these medications negates the side effects they have and promotes a positive birthing experience.

Methods: This DNP project will be retrospective chart review on patients who required a caesarean section and the use of rescue opioid medications. Charts will be reviewed in a 4-week period in the Spring of 2023 at a Midwest community hospital.

Implementation Plan/Procedure: Charts reviewed will be divided into two groups who received a caesarean section. Group 1 will be those who did not receive a TAP block. Group 2 will be those who did receive a TAP block. Both groups' charts will be reviewed for use of rescue medications and compared to one another using a Chi-Square Test.

Implications/Conclusions: This study concluded that there was no statistical reduction in the use of rescue opioid pain medications in the 24 hours following a caesarean section when a TAP block was performed.

Creator

• Ramey, Nicholas

Language

• English

Keyword

• TAP Block

• Opioid use

• Caesarean Section

Date created

• 2023

Resource type

• Research Paper

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/