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NCT Number: NCT06950502

Comparison of the Effects of Bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Bilateral Quadratus Lumborum Block on Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Midline Laparotomy

Midline incisions provide easy, rapid and excellent exposure of the abdominal cavity and are particularly used for complex, diagnostic or emergency procedures.

However, midline incisions transect the nerve fibers passing in the mediocaudal direction of the abdominal wall, which causes more postoperative pain than other incisions.

Postoperative pain and delayed return of bowel function are thought to be the main factors that prevent early recovery and discharge.

or surgical procedures where parietal pain is the main component of postoperative pain, TAPB can be used as a simple and effective analgesic technique with the added advantage of preserved motor and bladder function.

Quadratus lumborum block can be used as an analgesic technique in all surgeries such as proctosigmoidectomy, hip surgery, above-knee amputation, abdominal hernia repair, breast reconstruction, colostomy closure, radical nephrectomy, lower extremity vascular surgery, total hip arthroplasty, laparotomy and colectomy.

Our study aimed to compare the effects of bilateral oblique subcostal TAPB with bilateral QLB2 and QLB3 performed under ultrasound guidance in midline incision laparotomies on total opioid requirement in the first 24 hours postoperatively, early postoperative pain intensity, time to first rescue analgesic requirement, nausea, vomiting and pruritus.

To evaluate this hypothesis, we compared TAPB and QLB in a prospective, randomized, single-center clinical study. The primary endpoint of our study was the comparison of total morphine consumption in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

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Key information

Conditions

QLB vs TAPB Bites and Stings Chemically-Induced Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Poisoning Quadratus Lumborum Block Signs and Symptoms Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ankara University School of Medicine

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Laparotomy with midline incision
  • General anesthesia will be applied
  • 18-70 years old
  • ASA 1-3
  • BMI of 18-30 kg/m2
  • Literate
  • Without cognitive impairment
  • Patients who approved the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

  • Under 18 years old
  • Over 70 years old
  • ASA 4 and above
  • Cognitive impairment
  • İlliteracy
  • Vision and hearing problem
  • Infection at the injection site
  • Coagulopathy
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Local anesthetic allergy
  • Patients who do not want to be included in the study

Treatment and study plan

transversus abdominis plane block

Procedure

Transversus abdominis plane block was performed with the patient lying in the supine position via an oblique subcostal approach from the anterior abdominal wall. After skin asepsis of the anterior abdominal wall was provided with 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, the linear ultrasound probe was placed parallel to the subcostal border at the level of the xiphoid bone and the subcutaneous fat tissue, rectus abdominis muscle and transversus abdominis muscle were visualized, respectively. A 10 cm 20G needle (BRAUN Stimuplex Ultra 360, GERMANY) was advanced towards the transversus abdominis muscle fascia with the in-plane technique and 0.3 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected into this area.This procedure was performed bilaterally.

Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB)

Procedure

Quadratus lumborum block; after the patient was lying in the lateral decubitus position and skin asepsis of the posterior abdominal wall was provided with 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine, the ultrasound probe was moved from the level of the iliac crest to the 4th lumbar vertebra and the quadratus lumborum muscle was visualized on the transverse process of the 4th lumbar vertebra at the point where the anterior abdominal wall muscles end. The needle was advanced in-plane between the quadratus lumborum muscle and the erector spinae-latissimus dorsi muscles (QLB2) located on the posterior-superior side of this muscle, and 0.15 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected under the thoracolumbar fascia located between these two muscles. Then, the needle was advanced towards the quadratus lumborum and the psoas major (QLB3) muscle located on the anterior-inferior side, and 0.15 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected between these two muscles.This procedure was applied to the patient bilaterally.

quadratus lumborum block using bupivacaine

Drug

The needle was advanced in-plane between the quadratus lumborum muscle and the erector spinae-latissimus dorsi muscles (QLB2) located on the posterior-superior side of this muscle, and 0.15 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected under the thoracolumbar fascia located between these two muscles. Then, the needle was advanced towards the quadratus lumborum and the psoas major (QLB3) muscle located on the anterior-inferior side, and 0.15 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected between these two muscles.This procedure was applied to the patient bilaterally.

transversus abdominis plane block using bupivacaine

Drug

A 10 cm 20G needle (BRAUN Stimuplex Ultra 360, GERMANY) was advanced towards the transversus abdominis muscle fascia with the in-plane technique and 0.3 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine was injected into this area.This procedure was performed bilaterally.

Primary outcomes

  1. Our study aimed to compare the effects of bilateral oblique subcostal TAPB with bilateral QLB2 and QLB3 performed under ultrasound guidance in midline incision laparotomies on total opioid requirement in the first 24 hours postoperatively

    Time frame: Within 24 hours after surgery

    All patients were extubated after the block was performed. All patients were given 1 mg bolus 10 min lock time IV morphine (Morphine Hydrochloride, OSEL Drug) connected to the PCA device (BodyGuard 575i Pain Manager, TARMED). If the morphine given with the PCA device was not sufficient as an analgesic, patients were given 1 gr IV paracetamol infusion (the dose was adjusted so that the paracetamol dose did not exceed a maximum of 4 grams per day). If the VAS was still >4 at 1 hour after paracetamol, the patient was administered 50 mg IV dexketoprofen (NSAID) (the dexketoprofen dose was adjusted to a maximum of 150 milligrams per day).he amount of opioids used and requested by the patients was recorded as the amount of PCA medication at the 15th minute, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th hours, as how much opioids they requested or used at the specified time intervals. For example, the amount of opioid used between the 15th minute and the 2nd hour was recorded at the 2nd hour.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Apr 30, 2025
Registry last updated
May 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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