Impact of the combination of abdominal peripheral nerve block and neuromuscular blockade on the surgical space during robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery: a prospective randomized controlled study

Abstract

Purpose: The impact of the combination of abdominal peripheral nerve block (PNB) and the depth of neuromuscular blockade on the surgical field were assessed.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients undergoing elective robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) were randomized into two groups: a PNB group (moderate neuromuscular block [train-of-four 1-3 twitches] with abdominal PNB) and a non-PNB group (deep neuromuscular block [post-tetanic count 0-2 twitches] without abdominal PNB). The primary outcome was the change in the depth of the abdominal cavity relaxation assessed by the change in the distance (Δdistance) between the umbilicus port and peritoneum upon pneumoperitoneal pressure increase from 8 to 12 mmHg. The secondary outcomes were the CO₂ usage for the pneumoperitoneal pressure increase and the subjective differences in the Surgical Rating Score (SRS) during surgery.

Results: The Δdistance and the CO₂ usage from 8 to 12 mmHg did not differ significantly between the non-PNB and PNB groups (1.34 ± 0.65 vs. 1.28 ± 0.61 cm, p = 0.763 and 3.64 ± 1.68 vs. 4.34 ± 1.44 L, p = 0.180, respectively). There was also no significant difference in SRS. Comparisons of the Δdistance values for pressure increases from 6 to 8 mmHg, 6 to 10 mmHg and 6 to 12 mmHg between the non-PNB and PNB groups also showed no between-group differences, despite significant intra-group differences (p < 0.001) by pressure increment.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that moderate neuromuscular block with abdominal PNB maintained an adequate surgical space for RARP, with no significant difference from the space achieved by deep neuromuscular block.

Keywords: Muscle relaxant; Peripheral nerve block; Robotic surgery.