RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Quadratus lumborum block: an imaging study of three approaches JF Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine JO Reg Anesth Pain Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 35 OP 40 DO 10.1136/rapm-2020-101554 VO 46 IS 1 A1 Angela Lucia Balocco A1 Ana M López A1 Cedric Kesteloot A1 Jean-Louis Horn A1 Jean-François Brichant A1 Catherine Vandepitte A1 Admir Hadzic A1 Philippe Gautier YR 2021 UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/46/1/35.abstract AB Background and objectives Different injection techniques for the quadratus lumborum (QL) block have been described. Data in human cadavers suggest that the transverse oblique paramedian (TOP) QL3 may reach the thoracic paravertebral space more consistently than the QL1 and QL2. However, the distribution of injectate in cadavers may differ from that in patients. Hence, we assessed the distribution of the injectate after the QL1, QL2, and TOP QL3 techniques in patients.Materials and methods Thirty-four patients scheduled for abdominal surgery received QL blocks postoperatively; 26 patients received bilateral and 8 patients received unilateral blocks. Block injections were randomly allocated to QL1, QL2, or TOP QL3 techniques (20 blocks per each technique). The injections consisted of 18 mL of ropivacaine 0.375% with 2 mL of radiopaque contrast, injected lateral or posterior to the QL muscle for the QL1 and QL2 techniques, respectively. For the TOP QL3, the injection was into the plane between the QL and psoas muscles, proximal to the L2 transverse process. Two reviewers, blinded to the allocation, reviewed three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) images to assess the distribution of injectate.Results and discussion The QL1 block spread in the transversus abdominis plane (TAP), QL2 in the TAP, and posterior aspect of the QL muscle, whereas TOP QL3 spread consistently in the anterior aspect of the QL muscle with occasional spread to the lumbar and thoracic paravertebral areas.Conclusions The spread of injectate after QL1, QL2, and QL3 blocks, resulted in different distribution patterns, primarily in the area of injection. The TOP QL3 did not result in consistent interfascial spread toward the thoracic paravertebral space.