Analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block and lateral approach quadratus lumborum block after laparoscopic appendectomy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic appendectomy is the most performed emergency surgical technique worldwide. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks, which are easier to achieve with ultrasound, are frequently used in multimodal analgesia techniques for this surgery. Quadratus lumborum (QL) block has become a standard block, first used in gynecological and other abdominal surgeries. This study was planned to compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided QL and TAP blocks for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic appendectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 136 patients aged 18-65 years who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy were randomized and divided into two groups. A volume of 40 ml of local anesthetic containing 0.375% bupivacaine was administered for block applications in group TAP (n = 68) and group QL (n = 68). In addition, a patient-controlled analgesia device was used to administer bolus tramadol hydrochloride at a dose of 10 mg to relieve pain in the postoperative period. Postoperative opioid consumption of patients was recorded as the primary outcome and pain scores (1, 6, 12, 18, 24 h) as the secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Both groups were statistically similar in demographic and surgical data. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups over 24 h in terms of intraoperative remifentanil consumption (p = 0.584), postoperative cumulative opioid consumption (p = 0.807), and pain scores. No complications were observed in either group related to the block.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided lateral approach QL block may provide adequate analgesia efficacy in patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy, like TAP block, and may be included in multimodal analgesia in pain control.