Transversus abdominis plane block in ponies: a preliminary anatomical study.
Abstract: To describe a single-site transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block technique in horses. Methods: Prospective, descriptive, experimental anatomical study. Methods: Four adult pony cadavers. Methods: Freshly euthanized ponies were positioned in dorsal recumbency. A 6-13 MHz linear ultrasonic probe was used to scan the abdominal wall bilaterally midway between the last rib and iliac crest in search of the TAP location. By modifying the technique to accommodate the equine anatomy, the TAP was successfully visualized with the transducer positioned in a transverse plane with its side indicator over the intercept of two lines, one connecting the most cranial aspect of the iliac crest and the most caudal extent of the last rib and another originating just caudal to the umbilicus and extending laterally. Each hemiabdomen was injected with 0.5 mL kg of a 1:1 solution of 1% methylene blue and 0.5% bupivacaine via a 21 gauge 10 cm stimulating needle inserted ventral-dorsally and in plane with the ultrasound beam. Approximately 3 hours after injection, the abdomen was dissected and nerves stained over 1 cm in length were identified. Results: Staining was evident from the fourteenth thoracic (T14) to the third lumbar (L3) nerves. The ventral branches of the fifteenth to the eighteenth thoracic nerves (T15-T18) and first and second lumbar nerves (L1 and L2) were stained in three, six, eight, eight, eight and seven of eight injections, respectively. Conclusions: Nerves T16-L2 had over 75% success rate in staining, suggesting that this technique would block transmission from T16 to L2, assuming that staining indicates potential nerve block. Dorsal spread occurred in three of eight hemiabdomens. Further studies developing techniques for the cranial abdomen and adjusting volume and concentration of injectate are warranted.
Copyright © 2018 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-02-07 PubMed ID: 29559203DOI: 10.1016/j.vaa.2018.01.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research provides a preliminary anatomical study of a single-site transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block technique in pony cadavers, aiming to establish a manageable technique to block pain transmission from the mid to lower part of the pony’s abdomen.
Methods
- The research began with four adult pony cadavers, which were in dorsal recumbency (lying on their back).
- Using a 6 to 13 MHz linear ultrasonic probe, researchers scanned the ponies’ abdominal walls on both sides, specifically between the last rib and the iliac crest (part of the pelvis), looking for the TAP location.
- By adjusting the technique to fit equine anatomy, the researchers were able to successfully locate the TAP by positioning the ultrasound in a transverse plane (horizontally across the body) at the intercept of two specific lines on its body.
- Each half of the abdomen was injected with a mixed solution of 1% methylene blue (a dye) and 0.5% bupivacaine (a local anesthetic) using a 10cm needle that was compatible with the ultrasound device.
- Three hours after the injections, the pony cadavers were dissected, and any nerves that had been stained over 1cm in length were identified.
Results
- The staining indicated that the method could potentially block nerve transmission from the fourteenth thoracic (T14) to the third lumbar (L3) nerves.
- The ventral branches of the fifteenth to eighteenth thoracic nerves and the first and second lumbar nerves had varied success with staining, which would suggest potential nerve blocking.
- Over 75% of the T16-L2 nerves were successfully stained, implying that pain could be blocked from the T16 to L2 region.
- Dorsal spread occurred in three out of eight hemiabdomens.
Conclusions
- The study indicated that a single-site TAP block technique might be successful in blocking pain transmission from specific regions of a pony’s abdomen.
- However, further investigations are needed to refine the technique, particularly focusing on the cranial abdomen and adjusting the volume and concentration of the injected agents.
Cite This Article
APA
Baldo CF, Almeida D, Wendt-Hornickle E, Guedes A.
(2018).
Transversus abdominis plane block in ponies: a preliminary anatomical study.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 45(3), 392-396.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaa.2018.01.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. Electronic address: cfbaldo@umn.edu.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdominal Muscles / drug effects
- Anesthesia, Local / methods
- Anesthesia, Local / veterinary
- Animals
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Injections, Intramuscular / methods
- Injections, Intramuscular / veterinary
- Nerve Block / methods
- Nerve Block / veterinary
- Ultrasonography, Interventional / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Micieli F, Guccione J, Della Valle G, Alterisio MC, Ciaramella P, Vesce G, Chiavaccini L. Clinical efficacy of an ultrasound-guided bilateral rectus sheath block for umbilical hernia repair in calves: A prospective randomized trial. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2023;4:1051504.
- Di Bella C, Pennasilico L, Staffieri F, Serino F, Palumbo Piccionello A. Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Rabbits: A Cadaveric Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 30;11(7).
- Trujanovic R, Otero PE, Marhofer P, Auer U, Kau S. Proximal Perineural Femoral Nerve Injection in Pigs Using an Ultrasound-Guided Lateral Subiliac Approach-A Cadaveric Study. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 12;11(6).
- Calice I, Kau S, Knecht C, Otero PE, Larenza Menzies MP. Combined caudal retrocostal and lateral ultrasound-guided approach for transversus abdominis plane injection: A descriptive pilot study in pig cadavers. PLoS One 2021;16(3):e0248131.
- Nocera I, Moroni R, Fanelli D, Rota A, Di Franco C, Ungari C, Puccinelli C, Gandini M, Giusto G, Vannozzi I. Cryptorchidism in Equid: A Retrospective Study on Diagnostic Approach, Anaesthesia Management, Surgical Treatment and Outcomes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 9;15(19).
- Serino F, Pennasilico L, Galosi M, Palumbo Piccionello A, Tambella AM, Di Bella C. Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Rabbit Cadavers: Anatomical Description and Measurements of Injectate Spread Using One- and Two-Point Approaches. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 22;14(5).
- Aitken MR, Floriano DA, Hopster K. Open Approach to the Transversus Abdominis Plane in Horses: A Cadaver Feasibility Study. Vet Sci 2024 Jan 22;11(1).
- Morris TB, Hopster K, Fecteau ME. Perioperative analgesic effects of an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block using bupivacaine in goats undergoing celiotomy. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1197728.
- Gutiérrez Bautista ÁJ, Söbbeler FJ, Koch R, Viscasillas J, Kästner S. Assessment of an Ultrasound-Guided Rectus Sheath Block in Foals: A Cadaveric Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 21;13(23).
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