InTrathecal mORphine, traNsversus Abdominis Plane Block, and tramaDOl Infusion for Catheter-Related Bladder Discomfort in Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy (TORNADO): A Pilot Prospective Controlled Study

Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD), affecting surgical patients requiring large catheters, is often intolerable. In this prospective controlled study, we compared the efficacy of three analgesic approaches in the management of CRBD. Here, 33 patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) were allocated to the following three groups: intrathecal morphine (IM), transversus abdominis plane block (TAP), and tramadol intravenous infusion (TI). The primary outcome was CRBD assessed at admission in the recovery room (RR) (T0), and 1 h (T1), 12 h (T2), and 24 h (T3) after surgery. The secondary outcomes included the following: Aldrete score; postoperative pain, measured with a numerical rate scale (NRS) at T0, T1, T2, and T3; postoperative opioid consumption; and flatus. The patients of the IM group showed significantly lower CRBD values over time compared to the patients of the TI group (p = 0.006). Similarly, NRS values decreased significantly over time in patients receiving IM compared to patients treated with TI (p < 0.0001). Postoperative nausea and vomiting did not differ among the three groups. Postoperative opioid consumption was significantly lower in the IM group compared to the other two groups. Most patients of the IM group (9 of 11) had flatus on the first postoperative day. In conclusion, IM may prevent CRBD and reduce pain perception and postoperative opioid consumption and expedite bowel function recovery.