The effect of transversus abdominis plane block for pediatric patients receiving bone graft to the alveolar cleft

BACKGROUND: Transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block) is useful for lower abdominal operations. Recently, ultrasound guided nerve block has been performed with ultrasound scanning. METHODS: We investigated the effectiveness of TAP block in 64 pediatric patients (aged 5-12 years, F/M = 21/43) receiving bone graft from the ilium to the alveolar cleft. We compared the dosages for postoperative analgesics between the groups of TAP block and non-TAP block. RESULTS: In the TAP block group, the frequency of using the postoperative analgesics was lower compared with non TAP block group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that TAP block was effective in pediatric patients receiving bone graft to the alveolar cleft.