• Santhanam Suresh and Vincent W S Chan.
• Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. ssuresh@childrensmemorial.org
• Paediatr Anaesth. 2009 Apr 1;19(4):296-9.

AbstractThe 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.

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