Comparing Two Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks for Pain Relief After Elective Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery

What this Trial Is About

This prospective observational study compares two types of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, the bilateral recto-intercostal plane block RIPB and the bilateral external oblique intercostal plane block EOIPB, for managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. The purpose is to evaluate whether one block provides better pain relief and recovery outcomes after this common minimally invasive surgery. Both types of nerve blocks are given after anesthesia induction as part of routine preemptive multimodal pain management. Patients receiving the bilateral recto-intercostal plane block form the RIPB group, while those receiving the bilateral external oblique intercostal plane block form the EOIPB group. All patients receive standardized general anesthesia and postoperative pain control, including intravenous tramadol via patient-controlled analgesia. During the first 24 hours after surgery, researchers will measure total tramadol use, pain scores at rest and during activity, rescue pain medication needs, nausea and vomiting, time to first mobilization, length of hospital stay, quality of recovery based on a questionnaire, and any complications related to the nerve blocks. These assessments will help determine differences in pain relief and recovery quality between the two nerve block techniques.

RIPB Versus EOIPB for Pain Control After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy