Improved analgesia with the ilioinguinal block compared to the transversus abdominis plane block after pediatric inguinal surgery: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has shown promise for analgesia after pediatric inguinal surgery. This prospective, randomized study tested the hypothesis that the TAP block would provide comparable analgesia after pediatric inguinal surgery compared with a conventional ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal block.

Methods: After induction of general anesthesia, infants and children presenting for elective inguinal surgery were randomly assigned to receive an ultrasound-guided TAP block (needle cephalad of the iliac crest at the anterior axillary line) (n = 20) or ilioinguinal block (needle immediately anteromedial to the anterior superior iliac spine) (n = 21).