Ultrasound Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block for Postoperative Pain in Abdominoplasty
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The original concept of a quadratus lumborum block (QLB) indicated for analgesia after
abdominal surgery was first described by Blanco in 2007. Also referred to as a posterior
transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, the QLB consists in deposition of local anesthetic
on either the posterior or the anterolateral border of the quadratus lumborum muscle. TAP
blocks have already been proved effective in urologic, abdominal, and gynecologic procedures
by blocking the sensory nerve supply to the anterior abdominal wall thus reducing the amount
of postoperative analgesic medication. The main advantages of QLB compared to the TAP block
is a wider sensory block area and a longer duration of analgesia. This is due to the
extension of local anesthetic agents beyond the TAP plane to the thoracic paravertebral
space(4).
Previous reports have shown that QLB is effective in providing pain relief after various
abdominal operations. However, there are no published reports on QLB for postoperative pain
after abdominoplasty. This prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study aims to
evaluate the analgesic efficacy, opioids consumption and quality of recovery of QLB in
patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Patients scheduled to have abdominoplasty will be
randomized to receive bilateral QLB with either ropivacaine 0.2% or normal saline.
Post-operative cumulative analgesic medication consumption, pain severity at rest and on
movement, as well as quality of recovery will be evaluated and compared in both groups.