Ultrasound-Guided TAP Regional Nerve Block in the Emergency Department for Paracentesis Procedure and Peritonitis: A Case Report

Thursday, November 13, 2025

4:01 PM - 4:09 PM CT

Location: 301 - 302

Introduction: Abdominal paracentesis is a key diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in patients with ascites. The conventional method of pain management for paracentesis is local infiltration of an anesthetic agent. While transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks are traditionally used for post-operative analgesia, their application is expanding in the emergency department (ED). This case describes the use of an ED-performed TAP block as part of a procedural pain management strategy for paracentesis in a patient with suspected peritonitis.

Co-Author(s)

MP

Mit Patel, MD

Emergency Medicine Resident Physician
Henry Ford Health, United States

Submitting Author(s)

RG

Revelle Gappy, MD

Emergency Medicine Resident
Henry Ford Hospital
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States

Co-Author(s)

AH

Arqam Husain, MD

Emergency Medicine Resident
Henry Ford Health, United States
CC

Christopher Clark, MD

Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship Director
Henry Ford Health, United States
AP

Andrew Park, MD

Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Faculty
Henry Ford Health, United States