Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block

Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (UTAP) block is a regional anesthetic technique being investigated by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for the management of postoperative pain. The procedure involves the administration of 0.25% bupivacaine into the neurovascular plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles using real-time ultrasound guidance. Bupivacaine, the active pharmaceutical ingredient, acts as a local anesthetic by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, thereby inhibiting the initiation and conduction of pain signals from the anterior abdominal wall. This specific intervention is currently being evaluated in Phase III clinical trials to compare its efficacy against laparoscopic-guided blocks and local wound infiltration in patients undergoing robotic-assisted urological surgeries, such as prostatectomy and nephrectomy.

Other names

Ultrasound-guided TAP blockUTAP block