Ultrasound guided Quadratus lumborum block versus transversus abdominis plane block as postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery

Abstract

Background: Abdominal surgeries are often linked with post-operative pain (POP). The transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block is an efficient method for POP management in these patients. The quadratus lumborum (QL) block (QLB) is another method for the POP control. The current study aims to assess the efficiency and safety of QLB and TAP block for POP control after abdominal cancer surgeries. Methods: 98 cases scheduled for abdominal cancer surgery by using general anesthesia (GA) were comprised in this randomized study. They were randomly divided into 2 equal groups :(QL group) patient received GA plus bilateral QLB, (TAP group) patient received GA plus bilateral TAP block. The total dose of morphine used postoperative was measured, VAS and duration of postoperative analgesia were recorded. Results: There was a statistically significant longer analgesic duration in the QL group than in the TAP group, and there was also a statistically significant decrease in intraoperative fentanyl consumption in the QL group than in the TAP group. Postsurgical morphine consumption was significantly lower in QL group than in TAP group. A significantly lower VAS was demonstrated in QL group than TAP group. Conclusion: We concluded that in patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgeries, US guided QLB decreased the postsurgical analgesic consumption and prolonged the duration of postsurgical analgesia when compared with the TAP block.