Transverse Abdominis Plane Block for Cancer Related Abdominal Pain: A New Modality in Horizon

Primary or metastatic cancers involving the intra-abdominal organ systems frequently result in abdominal pain, of both abdominal visceral and somatic types. This pain can be extremely severe and distressing to patients, and very often requires the use of opioid-based medications for modification of pain to tolerable levels. Adjunctive therapies have also been described, including interventional procedures such as celiac plexus blockade. Both treatment modalities have obvious benefit, but also substantial risk. We present a case of significant and intractable abdominal cancer pain, and describe successful management of this pain with the relatively safe and simply performed ultrasound guided transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block.