Background: Effective regional analgesia during open surgery could reduce opioid consumption and enhance early recovery. We compared the effects of the newly developed quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and the traditional epidural block (EB) in open uterine surgery.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we included patients scheduled for elective open uterine surgery during May - September 30, 2019. Patients received QLB or EB for perioperative pain relief before general anesthesia. Perioperative opioid consumption, and numeric rating scale (NRS: 0-10) pain scores after surgery, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ephedrine and urapidil use during surgery, lower limb muscle strength, timing of first flatus and defecation, nausea, vomiting, and other complications within 24 h post-surgery, were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.
Results: Data of 72 (86%; 36/group) of 83 eligible patients were analyzed. Remifentanil consumption during surgery was higher in the QLB than in the EB group, while cumulative sufentanil consumption within 24 h post-surgery was similar between both groups. NRS pain scores at rest and during activity were higher at 1 h post-surgery, and MAP was higher at 5-, 15-, and 30-min postincision in the QLB than in the EB group; HR was similar between groups. Lower ephedrine requirements, higher lower limb muscle strength at 1 h post-surgery, and lower nausea incidence were observed in the QLB group.
Conclusions: QLB produces a less intense but longer block and fewer side effects in the first 24 h after open uterine surgery than those produced by EB.