Every year 350 patients undergo surgery due to colorectal cancer at Zealand University
Hospital, Roskilde. The majority of the surgeries are performed using a minimal invasive
laparoscopic technique where the bowl anastomosis is either hand sown or stapled. The
procedure is performed, while the patient is under general anaesthesia.
An observational prospective survey from 2016-17 of sixty patients undergoing hemicolectomy
at Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde has shown, that even though the patients are
subjected to a multimodal analgesic regimen, a substantial amount of opioids are being
administered during the first 24 hours post surgery; i.e. 51.91 mg ± 36.22 mg (Mean ± SD) of
oral morphine equivalents. Sixty-five percent of the patients receive opioids at the PACU.
Their maximum pain score at the PACU is registered, using a numerical rating scale of 0-10,
as 3.28 ± 2.65 (Mean ± SD). So it is obvious that there is room for improvement and a
reduction in the use of postoperative opioids. Thus, there is a clearly defined research
problem to explore.
Currently ultrasound-guided nerveblocks are not part of the multimodal analgesic regimen.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided
bilateral transmuscular quadratus lumborum block on reducing postoperative opioid
consumption.