New Mediplus Rectus Sheath Catheter

Epidurals have been used for many years to help facilitate post-operative pain management but the complications and management issues are well known. Evidence shows that using the Rectus Sheath Catheter Set (RSC) for post-operative pain management can help facilitate early mobilisation and subsequent release from hospital for patients undergoing a midline abdominal incision.

The Rectus Sheath Catheter Set is designed to block the ventral rami of the lower six thoracic nerves (T7 –T12) when local anaesthetic is injected into potential space between the rectus abdominis muscle and posterior aspect of the rectus sheath. It can be used whenever a midline incision is performed, to block somatic pain from the abdominal wall structures superficial to the peritoneum approximately 5cm on either side of the midline.

Implementation of a robust post-operative patient management pathway is key to the success of the RSC as it requires support from the entire clinical team and not just the anaesthetist or surgeon. Experience has shown that regular injections of local anaesthetics form a key part of multi modal analgesia.

The benefits of the Rectus Sheath Catheter are:

- Safer procedure

- Minimise opioid use

- Equivalent analgesia

- Shorter inpatient stay

- Low ileus rates

- Less demands on nursing and medical staff

- Improves haemodynamic stability

- Earlier mobilisation possible

- Catheters can be left in situ for longer