# Rectus Sheath Blocks for Umbilical Hernia Reductions in the Emergency Department: A Case Series

## TL;DR

This paper reports the first use of rectus sheath blocks in emergency departments to relieve pain and reduce umbilical hernias.

## Contribution

The first reported case series of rectus sheath blocks used in the ED for umbilical hernia reduction.

## Key findings

- Four patients experienced complete pain relief after ultrasound-guided rectus sheath blocks.
- Hernia reduction was achieved easily following the block in all cases.
- The block is easy to perform and effective for pain control in ED settings.

## Abstract

Rectus sheath blocks have been used for decades in the operating room for analgesia following umbilical surgical procedures. We present the first reported case series of a rectus sheath block used in the emergency department (ED) for the reduction of an umbilical hernia.

Four patients presented to the ED for painful, non-reducible umbilical hernias. An ultrasound-guided bilateral rectus sheath block was used in all four patients with complete pain relief and an easy hernia reduction.

Rectus sheath blocks are an excellent addition to a multimodal analgesic regimen in periumbilical pain and painful procedures. This block is easy to perform and implement for pain control in umbilical hernias in an ED setting.