Ultrasound-guided bilateral dual transversus abdominis plane block: a new four-point approach

Background: We describe a new ultrasound-guided bilateral dual transversus abdominis plane block. Our hypothesis was that we could anaesthetize both the upper (Th6-Th9) and the lower (Th10-Th12) abdominal wall bilaterally using a four-point single-shot technique to provide effective post-operative analgesia.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 25 recovery room patients was included. They had undergone major open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia and had severe post-operative pain. The blocks were conducted using a high-frequency linear transducer and a 22 G, 80-mm-long needle. The needle was inserted in-plane from medial to lateral for each injection. Fifteen millilitres of bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml was injected at each of the four sites.

Results: Block performance took on average 16 min (range 10-20 min). The 25 patients reported a reduction of their maximum pain (visual analogue scale 0-10) from a mean of 8.2 to a mean of 2.2 10 min after block performance (P<0.001). They were discharged from the post-anaesthesia care unit after an average of 34 min. Twenty-one patients (84%) did not require any i.v. opioids in the following 6 h. Sixteen patients (64%) were mobilized within 6 h after the block. Data were similar irrespective of open or laparoscopic surgery (P=0.68).

Conclusion: This new four-point single-shot technique was effective in decreasing severe pain after a major abdominal surgery. The block, although short-lived, facilitated discharge from the post-anaesthesia care unit, few patients required opioids on the day of surgery and mobilization was improved.