Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block compared to caudal ropivacaine/morphine in children undergoing surgery for vesicoureteric reflex.

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block is a regional anesthetic technique which can provide perioperative analgesia for all age groups, including pediatric patients undergoing abdominal surgery. We hypothesized that the quadratus lumborum block would be as efficacious as a caudal block, the gold standard of pediatric lower abdominal regional anesthesia, in providing pain control after ureteral reimplantation but also have a longer duration.

METHODS

Forty-seven pediatric patients between the ages of 1 and 17 years undergoing bilateral ureteral reimplantation surgery via a low transverse incision were enrolled and randomized into the quadratus lumborum block and caudal block groups. All blocks were performed preoperatively under general anesthesia. We analyzed the following outcomes: the requirement for narcotic analgesics, pain score, episodes of emesis, and complications at 0, 4, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively.

RESULTS

The study included 44 patients after excluding three who were ineligible. The fentanyl requirement for postoperative rescue analgesia during the first 24 hours was significantly lower in the quadratus lumborum block group than in the caudal block group (median [interquartile range]: 0 [0-1] vs 3 [0-5], P = 0.016, 95% confidence intervals: -4 to 0) but not at 30 minutes, 4, or 48 hours. No significant difference was observed in the pain scores or the incidence of interventions to treat nausea and vomiting during the entire period. No postoperative complication was observed.

CONCLUSION

The quadratus lumborum block was more effective in reducing the postoperative opioid requirement for rescue analgesia during the initial 24 hours than caudal ropivacaine/morphine.