Effect of quadratus lumborum block on postoperative analgesic requirements in pediatric patients: a randomized controlled double-blinded study.

Abstract

Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newly-defined trunk block performed with local anesthetic injection by imaging the abdominal muscles with ultrasonography (US) guidance; thus, analgesia is expected to be ensured from the T7-L1 dermatomal segment level. In the study, the aim was making the comparison between the quadratus lumborum block and the intravenous analgesia with tramadol on postoperative analgesic effect in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients included in the study were randomly divided into two groups. Cases were assessed as intravenous opioid with 1 mg/kg tramadol HCl (Group O, N.=20) or ultrasonography-guided quadratus lumborum block (Group B, N.=20). Total analgesic amounts in 24 hours and first analgesic requirement times recorded. First analgesic requirement was recorded 3.5 hours later for Group O and eight hours later for Group B, indicating a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). When analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours postoperative is examined, fewer patients in the QLB group required oral paracetamol (P<0.05), therefore lower amounts of oral paracetamol were used (P<0.05). In conclusion, we believe QLB1 provides effective analgesia in the postoperative period for lower abdominal surgery in pediatric patients.