Spread of injectate after ultrasound-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane block: A cadaveric study

Abstract

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can be performed using a subcostal technique. This technique was simulated using dye injection in cadavers in order to determine segmental nerve involvement and spread of injectate using either single or multiple-injection techniques. Dye most commonly spread to affect T9 and T10 nerves with the single injection technique and T9, T10 and T11 with multiple injections. The median (IQR [range]) spread of dye was 60 (36-63 [32-78]) cm2 using the single-injection technique and 90 (85-96 [72-136]) cm2, in the multiple-injection technique, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.003). These results indicate that ultrasound-g..