Published online Mar 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i7.2357
Peer-review started: October 17, 2021
First decision: December 17, 2021
Revised: December 18, 2021
Accepted: January 19, 2022
Article in press: January 19, 2022
Published online: March 6, 2022
Processing time: 135 Days and 17.4 Hours
Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome is defined as abdominal pain due to entrapped intercostal nerves. This is the first report of a patient successfully treated for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome after laparoscopic surgery with an ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block. The rectus sheath block physically lysed adhesions and relieved pain from anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome.
The patient is a 44-year-old man who presented with severe left upper abdominal pain at an operative scar one month after laparoscopic ulcer repair. Diagnosis and treatment were performed using an ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block with 0.1% lidocaine 20 mL. The pain was relieved after the block. The diagnosis was anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. Rectus sheath block may be effective for patients with anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome.
Ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block is a promising treatment modality for patients with postoperative anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome due to adhesions.
Core Tip: Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is defined as chronic abdominal wall pain caused by entrapment of cutaneous branches of the lower thoracoabdominal intercostal nerves. In the present report, ACNES after a laparoscopic procedure was successfully treated with ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block. Ultrasound-guided rectus sheath block may become an important part of the armamentarium.