Article Text
Abstract
Background and aims Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block is a new technique of regional analgesia. Our aim was to evaluate ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block versus quadratus lumborum block as preemptive analgesia.
Methods A prospective randomized study was conducted on 56 patients with ASA I or II physical status who underwent elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair surgery attended to by the general surgery department, Menoufia University from February to December 2018.
Group T: 28 patients received ultrasound-guided TAP block with 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.25%.
Group Q: 28 patients received ultrasound-guided QLB with 20 ml of bupivacaine 0.25% history, examination and heart rate, blood pressure were measured.
Results VAS values were at low levels and comparable between the groups T and Q. on admission to the PACU and at (30, 60, 90 and 120) minutes postoperative showed lower values in group Q with no significant difference (P=0.089, 0.188, 1.00, 0.247, respectively). Then the values started to rise and still comparable between groups T and Q and significantly lower in group Q at 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 18, 20 and 24 hours postoperatively (P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, 0.035, 0.039, 0.043, respectively). At T 4, 8, 10, 14, 16, 22, VAS values were comparable between the two studied groups with no significant difference (P=0.051, 0.658, 0.520, 0.450, 0.079, 0.121, respectively).
Conclusions In patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgeries, quadratus lumborum block provided more effective intraoperative and postoperative analgesia with less intraoperative fentanyl consumption, less VAS for postoperative pain, a smaller number of patients needed analgesia after surgery and less postoperative morphine consumption.