Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effects of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) on postoperative analgesic efficacy and perioperative opioid consumption in female patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).Methods This retrospective analysis included 84 female patients who underwent LC at our hospital from January 2023 to December 2025. Depending on the anesthetic and analgesic approach, the patients were categorized into a TAPB group (n = 42) and a local infiltration anesthesia group (n = 42). After tracheal intubation, the TAPB group received bilateral ultrasound-guided TAPB, whereas the local infiltration anesthesia group received local infiltration anesthesia at the puncture sites before skin incision. Both groups received patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after surgery. Intraoperative remifentanil consumption, postoperative sufentanil consumption, the number of analgesic pump presses, and the proportion of patients requiring rescue analgesia were compared between the two groups. Pain intensity and comfort level were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Bruggemann comfort scale (BCS) at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. Serum adrenaline (AD) and cortisol (Cor) levels were measured before surgery and at 12 h after surgery. Postoperative recovery parameters, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and other anesthesia- and analgesia-related adverse events were also compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the local infiltration anesthesia group, the TAPB group showed significantly less intraoperative remifentanil consumption, postoperative sufentanil consumption, the number of analgesic pump presses, and a lower proportion of patients requiring rescue analgesia, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). At 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery, VAS scores were significantly lower, whereas BCS scores were significantly higher, in the TAPB group than those in the local infiltration anesthesia group, The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). At 12 h after surgery, serum AD and Cor levels were significantly increased compared with preoperative levels in both groups, however, the increases were less pronounced in the TAPB group than in the local infiltration anesthesia group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The hospital stay was shorter in the TAPB group than in the local infiltration anesthesia group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in recovery time of consciousness, tracheal extubation time, or postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay duration (P > 0.05). The incidence of PONV and antiemetic use in the TAPB group were significantly lower than those in the local infiltration anesthesia group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the incidence of dizziness, drowsiness, pruritus, urinary retention, and puncture site pain (P > 0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided TAPB can improve postoperative analgesic efficacy, reduce perioperative opioid consumption, alleviate stress responses, and decrease the incidence of PONV in female patients undergoing LC, suggesting potential clinical value.