A prospective study of 30 patients with severe postoperative pain following abdominal surgery, in which the dual TAP block technique has been used successfully to achieve pain relief. A description of ultrasound technique, effectiveness, duration and potential side effects of the pain treatment, with possible recommendations for future use.

This prospective cohort study is designed to describe a novel ultrasound-guided bilateral dual transversus abdominis plane (BD-TAP) block and to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy in a selection of patients having undergone major abdominal surgery under general anaesthesia where neuraxial anaesthesia and/or intravenous administration of analgesics had failed or was unwanted by the patient, or if the placement of an epidural catheter was deemed impossible by the anaesthetist in charge. 30 consecutive patients planned for the study. BD-TAP to be performed bilaterally with a high frequency linear ultrasound probe, with bupivacaine. Success rate, decline in VAS score, postoperative demand of opioids and block performance time to be recorded.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with pain VAS >5 following abdominal surgery, in which conventional pain treatment or epidural block is either ineffective or contraindicated

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics

Patients with postoperative pain following abdominal surgery that do not respond to moderate doses of opioid analgesics or patients with failed epidurals