Effect of Subcostal Anterior Quadratus Lumborum Block vs.Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block after Laparoscopic Radical Gastrectomy

Objective:To evaluate the analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided subcostal anterior quadratus lumborum block(QLB)for laparoscopic radical gastrectomy surgery.Methods:Patients(aged 20-65 years,ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ,and weighing 40-75 kg)scheduled for elective laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were enrolled in the current study.Sixty patients were randomly assigned to two groups by computer-generated randomization codes:an ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block(TAPB)group(group T,n=30)or an ultrasound-guided subcostal anterior QLB group(group Q,n=30).In both groups,bilateral ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal TAPB and subcostal anterior QLB were performed before general anesthesia with 0.25% ropivacaine 0.5 mL/kg.For postoperative management,all patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)with nalbuphine and sufentanil after surgery,maintaining visual analogue scale(VAS)scores<4 within 48 h.The intraoperative consumption of remifentanil,the requirement for sufentanil as a rescue analgesic,and the VAS scores at rest and coughing were recorded at 1,6,12,24 and 48 h after surgery.The recovery(extubation time after surgery,first ambulation time,first flatus time and length of postoperative hospital stay)and the adverse events(nausea and vomiting,skin pruritus,respiratory depression and nerve-block related complications)were observed and recorded.The primary outcome was the perioperative consumption of opioids.Results:Compared with group T,the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil,requirement for sufentanil and the frequency of PCIA were reduced in group Q.Meanwhile,VAS scores at all points of observation were significantly lower in group Q than in group T.Patients in group Q were also associated with shorter time to first out-of-bed activity and flatus,and shorter length of postoperative hospital stay than group T(P<0.05).There were no skin pruritus,respiratory depression or nerve-block related complications in both groups.Conclusion:Compared with ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal TAPB,ultrasound-guided subcostal anterior QLB provided greater opioid-sparing effect,lower visual analogue scores,and shorter postoperative hospital stay for laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Effect of Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block versus Lumbar Epidural Block on Postoperative Analgesia following Major Lower Abdominal Cancer Surgery

Background: Poor postoperative pain control leads to longer postoperative care, longer hospital stay and decreased patient overall satisfaction. Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of bilateral ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block versus lumbar epidural block on the management of postoperative pain following major lower abdominal cancer surgery. Methods: The study was a double-blinded, and randomized study, conducted in South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Egypt. It included cancer patients scheduled for major lower abdominal cancer surgery in the period from 2019 to 2020. They were divided into two groups: Group Ι received pre-emptive ultrasound-guided Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) with 25 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine on each side of the abdominal wall before induction of General Anesthesia (GA), and Group II received pre-emptive lumbar epidural block with 15 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine before induction of GA. VAS score, and time of the first analgesic request and postoperative total analgesic consumption were evaluated. Results: Sixty patients were included in our study. VAS score at rest was comparable between both studied groups in the first 6 h. At 8 and 10 h, Group II had a significantly higher VAS score at rest (P < 0.001 and 0.026 respectively). Meanwhile, at 12 h, patients in Group I had a significantly higher VAS score (P = 0.026). Mean time of the first request for rescue analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group I (13.27 ± 2.38 hrs.) compared to Group II (10.20 ± 1.42 hrs.) (P < 0.001) respectively, mean total morphine consumption, over the first 24 hours postoperatively, was significantly lower in Group I (5.17 ± 1.32 mg) than in Group II (7.33 ± 1.45 mg) (P < 0.001). A larger number of patients in Group II had nausea at different time points postoperatively than in Group I (P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed between both studied groups regarding the incidence of vomiting. Limitation: Small sample size and shorter period for postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: Management of postoperative pain following major lower abdominal cancer surgery with US-guided QLB was associated with the reduction in the total analgesic consumption and delayed the first request of analgesia as compared to lumbar epidural block technique.

Effect of ultrasound-guided lumbar square muscle block on stress response in patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Radical surgery is a common treatment for patients with gastric cancer;however,it can lead to postoperative complications and intestinal barrier dysfunction.Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block is often used for postoperative analgesia,but its effects on stress response and intestinal barrier function are not well understood.AIM To investigate the effects of an ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block on stress response and intestinal barrier function in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer.METHODS A total of 100 patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer were randomly categorized into observation and control groups.Plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels,intestinal mucosal barrier indexes,and complication rates were compared between the two groups before,during,and 1 day after surgery.RESULTS The observation group had significantly lower plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels during surgery and at 1 day postoperatively than that of the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,intestinal barrier indexes(endotoxin and D-dimer)at 1 day postoperatively were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block could reduce stress response,protect intestinal barrier function,and decrease the incidence of complications in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer.This technique has the potential for clinical applications.

Combined lumbar muscle block and perioperative comprehensive patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with butorphanol in gynecological endoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic surgery has become a common surgical approach for the clinical treatment of intra-abdominal lesions in recent years.We hypothesized that lumbar block with postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)by butorphanol after gynecological surgery under general anesthesia would be more effective than PCIA by butorphanol alone.AIM To investigate the effect of lumbar block with PCIA by butorphanol after gynecological surgery under general anesthesia.METHODS This study assessed 120 women scheduled for laparoscopic surgery at our hospital between May 2017 and May 2020.They were divided using a random number table into a research group(those who received quadratus lumborum block combined with PCIA analgesia by butorphanol)and a control group(those who received only PCIA analgesia by butorphanol),with 60 patients in each group.Demographic factors,visual analog scale scores for pain,serum inflammatory markers,PCIA compressions,Ramsay scores,and adverse events were compared between groups using a t-test,analysis of variance,orχ2 test,as appropriate.RESULTS There were no significant differences in demographic factors between groups(all P>0.05).The visual analog scale scores of the research group in the resting state 12 h and 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).Two hours after surgery,there were no significant differences in the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α,interleukin(IL)-6,or IL-8 between groups(P>0.05).The serum tumor necrosis factor-αlevels of the research group 24 h postoperatively were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The levels of serum IL-6 and IL-8 in the study group 24 h and 48 h postoperatively were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Lumbar block with PCIA with butorphanol after gynecological surgery under general anesthesia significantly improves the analgesic effect and reduces the degree of inflammation,instances of PCIA compression,and adverse reactions.