title: Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block in the dog: an anatomical evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the ultrasound-guided technique to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in the dog and evaluate the spread of a local anesthetic/methylene blue solution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten adult Beagle cadavers weighing 11.1 ± 1.1 kg (mean ± SD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks were performed bilaterally by a single trained individual on unpreserved cadaver dogs using 10 mL of methylene blue/bupivacaine solution per site. Dissection of the abdominal wall was performed within 15-55 minutes of block to determine distribution of injectate and nerve involvement in the transversus abdominis fascial plane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transversus abdominis fascial plane was adequately visualized via ultrasound and injected in twenty hemi-abdominal walls. Segmental branches of T11, T12, T13, L1, L2, and L3 were adequately stained in 20%, 60%, 100%, 100%, 90%, and 30% of injections, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This anatomical study suggests that the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block would provide adequate regional anesthesia of the abdomen, potentially extending to the cranial and caudal limits of the abdomen. This supports the clinical potential of this block in veterinary medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. Madison, WI 53706, USA. schroederc@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Lindsey B C
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Caitlin C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tearney
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Baker-Herman
authors.forename: Kristopher M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000818:Animals; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008751:Methylene Blue; D002045:Bupivacaine