Postoperative analgesia via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheter for small weight children-our initial experience.
Pain management in small infants and children is challenging. We report the use of unilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheters for analgesia following single-sided open lower abdominal surgery when epidural analgesia was undesirable in a series of six low-weight children. Data collection was done via a retrospective chart review. All catheters attempted were successfully placed with resultant low pain scores and the minimal use of rescue analgesic medications. No complications were reported related to these catheters. TAP catheters, although technically challenging, are feasible for the provision of analgesia for surgeries involving the lower abdominal wall in very small patients.
Department of Anesthesiology, The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. m_visoiu@yahoo.com
Mihaela
M
Visoiu
Karen R
KR
Boretsky
Gagandeep
G
Goyal
Franklyn P
FP
Cladis
Antonio
A
Cassara
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D057785:Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine
D000577:Amides; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D009020:Morphine; D000077212:Ropivacaine