Post-c-section Pain Control Satisfaction with Erector Spinae Simple Block Vs Lateral Quadratus Lumborum Block

The study will compare the difference between the patient's satisfaction after Erector spinae plane block (ESP) and Quadratus Lumborum block lateral approach after caesarean section alone or as part of multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome is to evaluate whether the type of plane block has an implication on the patients' satisfaction. The secondary outcome is to evaluate the difference between the two approaches on the hospital discharge.

Detailed Description IT is well Known that both Erector spinae plane block (ESP) and quadratus lumborum block are good modality for postoperative pain control after abdominal surgeries, this study will assess which one of both modalities is superior in achieving the patient's satisfaction after caesarean section. 1. INTRODUCTION: The goals for effective post-caesarean analgesia are interrelated and include allowing maternal bonding with her neonate, facilitating postoperative mobilization to reduce the risk of thromboembolism, preserving the ability for the mother to care for her infant, minimizing opioid use, and allowing safe breastfeeding with minimal transfer of analgesics to the neonate [1]. The options for post-caesarean delivery pain control include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous opioids, fascial plane blocks, and neuro-axial opioids [1, 2]. Efforts to reduce the doses of opioids prescribed after CD, both in the hospital and after discharge, are increasing. The lowest effective dose of any opioid should be used to minimize breast milk transfer and associated neonatal sedation. Neuraxial opioids are preferred to other routes of administration, when possible, to minimize maternal blood and breast milk levels [3]. If opioids are required, breastfeeding should ideally start just prior to opioid administration, as the drug concentration in breast milk rises and falls in parallel with maternal plasma levels [3]. Highly protein-bound medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and local anesthetics transfer less readily into breast milk than opioids and other lipophilic drugs [4]. A reported advantage of QL blocks is the possibility of providing better visceral analgesia compared with TAP blocks. However, the literature on the relative benefits of QL versus TAP blocks and other blocks for post-CD analgesia is conflicting. However, QL blocks can result in lower extremity weakness, particularly for the variants that involve more central injection of LA as in anterior QL [5]. Available literature regarding the use of other nerve blocks (e.g., ESP, ilio-inguinal ilio-hypogastric [IIH], transversalis fascia plane, QL blocks) has been described but is limited regarding the analgesic effect, duration of action, quality of recovery and the relation to each other. [6,7]. It is well known that dermatomal coverage from ESP blocks depends on the volume and dose of local anesthetic administered. Blocks placed at low thoracic levels (e.g., T9 to 10) should provide appropriate coverage for low transverse incision for CD.

• AIM/OBJECTIVES To study the difference between the patient's satisfaction after Erector spinae plane block (ESP) and Quadratus Lumborum block lateral approach after caesarean section alone or as part of multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome is to assess whether the type of the plane block has an implication on the patients' satisfaction. The secondry outcome is to assess the difference between the two approaches on the hospital discharge.

• METHODOLOGY: Patients and Methods, Subjects and Methods, Material and Methods • Type of Study: Randomized clinical trial Study Setting: Obstetric and gynecological hospital, Faculty of medicine, Ain Shams university. • Study Period: 6 months • Study Population: Inclusion Criteria: • Parturient female • Scheduled for elective caesarean section Exclusion Criteria: • Known allergy to any of the medication used • Patients refused to participate in the study • Patients with emergency section • Patients with Bleeding disease • Patients with postpartum hemorrhage

• Sampling Method: The patients will be randomly divided into two equal groups; randomization will be done by computer-generated number lists. ALL the patients will receive spinal anesthesia after proper sterilization of the back with betadine, 2.5 ml of heavy Bupivacaine 0.5%, together with twenty-five micrograms of fentanyl at the level of L 4-5. The block was maintained at level T4. The patients will be divided into two groups: Group E includes sixty-three women; those will receive an ultrasound-guided low thoracic Erector spinae plane block at level of T9 with a total volume of 60 ml of bupivacaine 0.3% and Dexmedetomidine at a total dose of 0.5 micrograms/kg [8].

Group Q: Includes 63 women. Those patients will receive bilateral ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum, lateral approach with a total volume of 60 ml of bupivacaine 0.3% and dexmedetomidine at a total dose of 0.5 mg/kg.

• Sample Size: Sample size was calculated using PASS II software. setting the type-1 error (α) at 0.05 , power (1-β) at 0.8 and confidence width level at 0.1 , Calculation according to the values of previous studies' Comparative efficacy of quadratus lumborum type II and erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial produced a sample size of at least 63 cases for each group.
• Ethical Considerations: The study will be conducted after approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, and conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. A written informed consent before enrolment will be taken.
• Study Procedures:

All patients will be monitored at 2 hrs. postpartum and every 6 hrs. for 24 hours, and the following will be recorded: The need for adjuvant analgesics, the first time to ask for adjuvants, the beginning of the mother-baby bond, the ambulation of the patients, the pain score using a numerical analogue scale, the type of pain, if there is a change in SBP > 20 mmHg or HR > 20/min, an increase in RR > 10 above baseline or a 5% decrease in SaO2, and the time for discharge. The patient's satisfaction to the block will be measured using 4 points Likert assessment to the question, "Are you satisfied with the pain management done after the caesarean section?" totally disagree, disagree, Agree, totally agree. In case the patient feels pain after the block, it will be managed in a stepwise manner, and each step will be recorded by ketorolac (30 mg prn every 8 hr) and recorded. Paracetamol 1gm prn every 6hr and will be recorded. Morphine 4 mg incremental dose up to achieving the target level with a maximum dose 0.1 mg/kg/dose prn every 6 hrs. and will be recorded. The patient with failed block will be recorded and managed by the aforementioned steps, and the investigators will consider repeating the block. Failure of the block means that the patient is feeling severe agonizing pain that interferes with her physical and social activities, such as taking a normal breath, starting breastfeeding, starting movement, and so on.

• Statistical analysis All statistical procedures will be conducted using SPSS version 20 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).

Inclusion criteria

• Parturient female
• Scheduled for elective cesarean section

Exclusion criteria

• Known allergy to any of the medications used
• Patients refused to participate in the study
• Patients with emergency section,
• Patients with Bleeding disease
• Patients with postpartum haemorrhage