Intraoperative Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Catheters Placed for Post-operative Analgesia Following Pedicled Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Breast Reconstruction: A Case Report

Transverse rectus abdominis (TRAM) flap reconstruction of the breast is a procedure in which a flap of skin, fat, and underlying rectus abdominis muscle is used to reconstruct the breast. This procedure is commonly performed after mastectomy and results in significant pain at the donor abdominal site. We present this case of a 50-year-old female undergoing pedicled TRAM flap surgery in which ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) catheters were placed intraoperatively, in a novel fashion: under ultrasound guidance, directly on the abdominal musculature, without overlying fat, subcutaneous tissue, or dressing. Our case-reported numeric pain scores ranged from 0-5/10 during postoperative days one to two. The patient's IV morphine requirement on postoperative days zero to two ranged between 1.34 mg to 2.6 mg per day, representing a significant decrease compared to literature-reported opioid consumption after such surgery. Her pain and opioid consumption increased significantly after catheter removal, suggesting the efficacy of our intraoperative TAP catheters.