Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Rabbits: A Cadaveric Study

Abstract

The aims of the study were to describe the ultrasonographic-guided lateral TAP block in rabbit cadavers and evaluate the spread of a lidocaine/methylene blue solution through a single fascial infiltration. The US-guided block and anatomical dissections were performed in 17 New Zealand rabbit cadavers. The probe was placed perpendicular to the column, one centimetre ventrally to the transverse processes, halfway between the iliac crest and the costal margin. External oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominis (TA) muscles were visualised, and 1 mL/kg of lidocaine 2% plus methylene blue 1% was injected. After dissection, the branches of spinal nerves stained were measured. Moreover, the percentage of length and height of the area marked were calculated. A good visualisation of the TAP was obtained in all 34 hemiabdomens. T11 nerve eminence was successfully stained in 52% of cases. T12, L1, and L2 were stained in 75%, 95%, and 100% of cases, respectively. L3 and L4 were stained in 60% and 40% of cases, respectively. The lateral TAP block with a single point of injection can be easily performed in rabbits, but it is not sufficient to cover the nerve eminences of the cranial abdomen. The two-point TAP block (lateral and subcostal) could represent a better option, particularly when large surgical incisions are required.

Use of subcostal and lateral transverse abdominal plane blocks as part of multimodal analgesia in a calf undergoing omphalitis surgical correction

“…The authors opted to perform the subcostal and lateral US‐guided TAP block for the management of this case, as they were more familiar with the technique and there is a body of literature supporting the use of the TAP block across various species 3–11 . Despite this, it is worth to mention that no clinical trials are comparing the techniques of the rectus sheath and TAP blocks.…”

“…The ultrasound (US)‐guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a well‐established local anaesthetic technique in veterinary medicine 3–11 that can desensitise the sensory afferent innervation of the surgical site for median celiotomy and abdominal wall surgery. The use of US‐guided TAP block has been reported in calves 9,12 .…”

Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Rabbit Cadavers: Anatomical Description and Measurements of Injectate Spread Using One- and Two-Point Approaches

“…However, to date, there are no studies describing and comparing TAP block techniques at one and two points in rabbits. In a previous cadaveric study, it was demonstrated that the preiliac approach alone is not sufficient to obtain good desensitization of the cranial abdomen, and this technique is probably more suitable for surgeries involving exclusively the caudal part of the abdomen [ 16 , 22 ]. The results obtained in this study showed that the combination of a preiliac and retrocostal approach could be a better technique for achieving complete abdominal wall block in rabbits, guaranteeing a greater and more complete desensitization of tissues, compared to the application of the single pre-iliac TAP block.…”

“…Furthermore, in the aforementioned study, only the one-point TAP block was performed (preiliac approach). The authors themselves state that this technique is probably not sufficient to achieve complete desensitization of the rabbit abdomen and that further research is needed to evaluate the best approach to use in this species [ 16 ]. Based on this background, the aim of this study was to describe two US-guided TAP block techniques in rabbits and to compare the one-point (preiliac) and two-point (preiliac and retrocostal) techniques in a cadaveric model of a rabbit.…”

Local and Regional Anaesthetic Techniques in Canine Ovariectomy: A Review of the Literature and Technique Description

“…Between the obliquus internus abdominis and the transversus abdominis muscles, there is a fascial plane known as the transversus abdominis plane [ 40 ], where the ventral branches of the caudal intercostal (T9 to T12), costo-abdominal (T13), cranial iliohypogastric (L1), caudal iliohypogastric (L2), and ilioinguinal nerves (L3) are embedded. These nerves supply innervation to the abdominal muscles, subcutaneous tissue, mammary glands, abdominal skin, and underlying parietal peritoneum [ 41 , 42 ]. The contribution of the ventral branches of T7 and T8 to abdominal innervation is variable, and the ilioinguinal nerve does not reach the cutaneous ventral midline.…”