Anterior Quadratus Lumborum Block for Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the perioperative analgesic effects of anterior quadratus lumborum block (QLB) for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). One hundred patients undergoing TLH were randomized to receive an anterior QLB or placebo before general anesthesia. The primary and secondary outcomes were postoperative sufentanil consumption, intraoperative remifentanil demand, time to first opioid demand, numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and complications within 24 h after surgery. No significant intergroup differences were observed in sufentanil consumption within 24 hours after surgery. Remifentanil consumption during surgery was lower in the QLB group than that in the placebo group. At 1 h after surgery, the NRS scores of abdominal visceral pain at rest and during activity were 1.26 and 1.41 points lower than those in the placebo group. In other time points, the differences of abdominal visceral pain were neither statistically significant nor clinically significant (pain difference <1) or both. No significant differences in NRS scores of shoulder pain, abdominal incisional pain and perineal pain were observed between the two groups, no matter at rest or during activity. There were no significant differences in other secondary outcome variables between the two groups. Preoperative bilateral anterior QLB only reduced intraoperative opioid demand and postoperative abdominal visceral pain scores at 1 h after surgery. The clinical significance of anterior QLB in TLH may be limited.