3D PRINTED HANDS-FREE ULTRASOUND PROBE HOLDER WITH MULTIANGLE NEEDLE GUIDE SYSTEM VERSUS CONVENTIONAL ULTRASOUND METHOD FOR POST OPERATIVE TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK FOR LOWER SEGMENT CAESAREAN SECTION – A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

DR NAGHA PRASSANA B,DR YACHENDRA VSG,DR RUBA VIKNESH,DR. SAJID .T HUSSAIN

Background:

Effective post-operative pain management is essential following lower segment caesarean sections (LSCS). The Transverse Abdominal Plane (TAP) block, performed under ultrasound guidance, is a widely used technique to provide post-operative analgesia. However, conventional ultrasound methods require continuous manual probe handling, which can lead to inconsistencies in needle placement and increased operator fatigue. This study evaluates the efficacy of a 3D-printed hands-free reusable ultrasound probe holder with a multi-angle needle guide system compared to the conventional handheld ultrasound method in performing TAP blocks for LSCS patients.

Methods:

This study was conducted in two phases. Phase I involved the designing development of the product. Phase II involved the randomized controlled trial with 60 patients undergoing elective LSCS who required post-operative TAP block for pain management. Participants were divided into two groups: (1) TAP block using the 3D-printed hands-free probe holder with a multi-angle needle guide system and (2) TAP block using the conventional handheld ultrasound method. Primary outcomes included comparing the efficacy, ergonomics and ease of the anaesthesiologist to perform the block.

Results:

Preliminary findings suggest that the 3D-printed hands-free probe holder reduced procedural time compared to the conventional method. Patients in the intervention group reported comparable VAS scores and required comparable amount of rescue analgesia postoperatively implying that the device is as precise as the conventional method. Furthermore, operators found the hands-free system ergonomically advantageous, reducing strain and enhancing precision during needle guidance.

Conclusion:

The 3D printed hands-free reusable ultrasound probe holder with a multi angle needle guide system is more ergonomic in providing USG guided TAP block compared to the conventional method of USG guided TAP block.