title: Ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane block in infants, children and adolescents: a simple procedural guidance for their performance.
abstract: The transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) has been described recently for pain management following abdominal surgery. Although many techniques have been described using anatomical landmarks, a simple ultrasound (US) guidance technique for the block has not been described in children. An article published by Hebbard and colleagues on the use of US-guidance for TAP blocks described the technique with the probe positioned at the midaxillary line with a needle insertion that is located further medial on the abdominal wall. This technique, although feasible in adults is not possible in children due to the need for obtaining a more thorough spread of the local anesthetic solution. We describe in this article, a user-friendly approach to the placement of a TAP block in infants, children and adolescents. Further pharmacokinetic data has to be obtained for actual dosing for these blocks in infants and children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. ssuresh@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Santhanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: Vincent W S
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Chan