Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block in high-risk infants, better option than opioids: A series of five cases

Abstract

Perioperative analgesia poses specific problems, especially when it comes to neonates and infants. The use of opioid in neonates is usually associated with the risk of delayed extubation and postoperative mechanical ventilation. Regional analgesia including epidural and caudal may be technically challenging or has limitations in a certain group of patients. Ultrasound (US)-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) is gaining popularity as a new technique of regional anesthesia applicable to infants and children. Precise drug administration is a major concern with TAP blocks in pediatric patients, especially infants and neonates. The application of US has enhanced the accuracy of local anesthetic deposition and hence the efficacy of analgesia in TAP block. We, hereby, report a series of five high-risk infants and neonates posted for abdominal surgeries wherein an ultrasonography-guided TAP resulted in satisfactory perioperative analgesia obviating the need of systemic opioids.

Keywords

• abdominal surgery
• high-risk infants
• ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block