Ultrasound Blocks for the Anterior Abdominal Wall - Adult and Pediatric Surgery

Somatic post-surgical pain is invalidating and distressing to patients and carries the risk of important complications. The anterior abdominal wall is involved in most surgical procedures in general, gynecologic, obstetric, urological, vascular and pediatric surgery. Combined multimodal strategies involving nerve blocks, opiates, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for systemic analgesia are necessary for optimal pain modulation. Anterior abdominal wall blocks, transverse abdominal plexus block, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerveblock, genitofemoral nerve block and rectus sheath block have an important role as components of multimodal analgesia for somatic intraoperative and postoperative pain control. Ultrasound visualization has improved the efficacy and safety of abdominal blocks and implemented the application in the clinical setting. For this reason, they are a very important tool for all anesthesiologists who aim to treat effectively patients’ pain. This guide provides an evidence based comprehensive and necessary overview of anatomical, anesthesiological and technical information needed to safely perform these blocks.

Anesthesiology is an ever-changing field. The publishers and author of this guide have made every effort to provide information that is accurate and complete as of the date of publication. However, in view of the rapid changes occurring in regional anesthesia, as well as the possibility of human error, this Guide may contain technical inaccuracies, typographical or other errors. It is the responsibility of the physician who relies on experience and knowledge about the patient to determine the most adequate treatment. The information contained herein is provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind. The contributors to this book, including Flying Publisher & Kamps disclaim responsibility for any errors or omissions or for results obtained from the use of information contained herein. The presented figures have only an illustrative purpose. Novices should begin their training followed by an expert in regional anesthesia. Gentium Basic and Gentium Book Basic font software by J. Victor Gaultney. The Gentium project, and the Gentium Basic and Gentium Book Basic fonts, are maintained by SIL International. Gentium font software is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1. This license is available at http://scripts.sil.org/OFL.