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Postoperative analgesia via transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheter for small weight children‐our initial experience
Author(s) -
Visoiu Mihaela,
Boretsky Karen R.,
Goyal Gagandeep,
Cladis Franklyn P.,
Cassara Antonio
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2011.03783.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transversus abdominis , catheter , anesthesia , analgesic , surgery , abdominal surgery , pain management , postoperative pain , patient controlled analgesia
Summary 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.