Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration is a
regional anesthesia technique that has been demonstrated to be effective for management of
postsurgical pain after abdominal surgery. There are several different clinical variations in the approaches used for achieving
analgesia via TAP infiltration, and methods for identification of the TAP have evolved considerably since the landmark-guided technique was first described in 2001. There are many factors that impact the
analgesic outcomes following TAP infiltration, and the various nuances of this technique have led to debate regarding procedural classification of TAP infiltration. Based on our current understanding of fascial and neuronal anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall, as well as available evidence from studies assessing
local anesthetic spread and cutaneous sensory block following TAP infiltration, it is clear that TAP infiltration techniques are appropriately classified as field blocks. While the objective of peripheral nerve block and TAP infiltration are similar in that both approaches block sensory response in order to achieve
analgesia, the technical components of the two procedures are different. Unlike peripheral nerve block, which involves identification or stimulation of a specific nerve or nerve plexus, followed by administration of a
local anesthetic in close proximity, TAP infiltration involves administration and spread of
local anesthetic within an anatomical plane of the surgical site.