Efficacy Of Scalp Block And Ultrasound Guided TAP Block With Clonidine As Adjuvant To Ropivacaine Versus Intravenous Fentanyl On Intraoperative Hemodynamics And Perioperative Analgesia In Abdominal Bone Flap Cranioplasties

Scalp block is provided by injecting local anaesthetic in the scalp at specific areas to block 6 nerves which are responsible for sensory innervation of the scalp - Supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves, Zygomaticotemporal nerve, Auriculotemporal nerve, Greater and lesser occipital nerves.

The transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block is a peripheral nerve block designed to anesthetize the nerves supplying the anterior abdominal wall (T6 to L1). It is usually accomplished by a single bolus injection into the transversus abdominis plane through the lumbar triangle of Petit and can be accomplished either by blind landmark based technique or alternatively under ultrasound guidance (as in this study).

Fentanyl is a commonly used opioid drug administered for analgesia in the perioperative period. It may be used as either intermittent bolus administration or continuous infusion or a combination of the two. Usual infusion doses range from 1-2 microgram/kg/hr, which may be titrated based on intraoperative haemodynamics or postoperative patient reported pain scores.