A Tampa anesthesiologist has conducted a case series that might support the use of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks in cesarean delivery, using liposomal bupivacaine, when preservative-free intrathecal morphine (ITM) is in short supply, such as during surges of COVID-19 cases.

"This case series suggests use of LB [liposomal bupivacaine] TAP blocks as part of a multimodal pain management regimen may be an attractive alternative to ITM for post-cesarean delivery analgesia in the context of the current shortage of ITM," wrote Osereimen Omoike,1 MD, an anesthesiologist at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, for Anesthesiology News in a June 7, 2022, web article.

Omoike reported no direct financial relationships but disclosed that Pacira Biosciences funded the medical writing and editing of this case series.

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