Unusual Abdominal Wall Complication After a Bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2026

Publication Title

Cureus

Keywords

abdominal wall ulceration; autoinflammatory dermatosis; local anesthetic; neutrophilic dermatosis; pathergy reaction; postoperative complication; pyoderma gangrenosum; regional anesthesia; tap block; wound ulceration

Abstract

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks are widely regarded as safe techniques for postoperative analgesia. We describe an unusual postoperative complication characterized by rapidly progressive bilateral abdominal wall ulceration following bilateral TAP block and infiltration of laparoscopic port sites with local anesthetics. The multifocal distribution, poor response to antibiotics, negative cultures, and association with procedural trauma raised strong concern for a sterile autoinflammatory dermatosis consistent with pyoderma gangrenosum or a related neutrophilic process, although a definitive diagnosis could not be confirmed. While pathergy remains the most widely accepted trigger for such reactions, an immune-mediated response to local anesthetic exposure may have contributed. The patient ultimately required surgical debridement with subsequent improvement. This case highlights the importance of recognizing noninfectious autoinflammatory wound reactions following regional anesthesia.

PubMed ID

41913853

Volume

18

Issue

2

First Page

104399

Last Page

104399

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