Acute Perioperative Pain

RESEARCH STRANDS

ACUTE PERIOPERATIVE PAIN.

Objective:

This objective of research strand is to develop more effective and safer approaches to the provision of effective analgesia for acute pain, particularly acute postoperative pain. A major current focus is on the development and ongoing characterisation of the Transversus Abdominus Plane block, and determination of the utility of ultrasound as a means to enhance the efficacy and safety of regional blockade.

Principal Investigators:  Dr John McDonnell 
                                    Prof John Laffey

Research Fellow:           Dr Olivia Finnnerty

Co- Investigators:         Prof Peter Dockery, Dept of Anatomy, NUI Galway. 
                                    Dr David Finn, Dept of Pharmacology, NUI Galway.

Ongoing Clinical Projects

1. Characterization of the efficacy of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block in children undergoing abdominal surgery.

2. Comparison of the efficacy of the Paravertebral block versus Epidural blockade in adults undergoing nephrectomy.

3. Characterization of the efficacy of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block versus Epidural blockade in adults undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Recently Completed Clinical Projects

4. Characterization of the efficacy of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy.

5. Anatomic and radiologic characterization of the Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block.

6. Characterization of a novel Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block in patients undergoing abdominal laparotomy.

7. Optimization of the dose of intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Selected Recent Publications

1. Carney J, McDonnell JG, Ochana A, Bhinder R, Laffey JG. The Transversus Abdominis Plane Block provides effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy. Anesthesia and Analgesia 2008 Dec;107(6):2056-60.

2. Hassett P, Ansari B, Gangamoorthy P, Kinirons B, Laffey JG. Determination of the efficacy and side-effect profile of lower doses of Intrathecal Morphine in Patients undergoing Total Knee Replacement. BMC Anesthesiology 2008, 8:5 (24 September 2008)

3. McDonnell JG, Curley G, Carney J, Benton A, Costello J, Maharaj C, Laffey JG. The analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block after cesarean section: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Anesthesia and Analgesia 2008 Jan;106(1):186-91 [PMID: 18165577]

4. McDonnell JG, O’Donnell B, Heffernan A, Power C, Laffey JG. Transversus Abdominus Plane (TAP) Block for Abdominal Surgery: Anatomic and Radiologic study. Reg Anes Pain Med 2007 Sep;32(5):399-404. [PMID: 17961838]

5. McDonnell JG, O'Donnell B, Curley G, Heffernan A, Power C, Laffey JG. The analgesic efficacy of transversus abdominis plane block after abdominal surgery: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Anesth Analg. 2007 Jan;104(1):193-7.  PMID: 17179269 [PubMed - in process].

6. Murphy PM, Stack D, Kinirons B, Laffey JG. Optimizing of the dose of Intrathecal Morphine in Older Patients undergoing Hip Arthroplasty. Anesthesia and Analgesia 2003 Dec; 97: 1709-1715.