Comparison of Two Pain-treatment Techniques After Cesarean Section

Effectiveness of Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Technique in Patients After Cesarean Section

Comparison of two types of analgesia after cesarean section. All patients will anaesthetised with spinal technique. Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane or quadratus lumborum block to treat postoperative pain. Postoperative pain will measured with visual-analogue scale (VAS). 1, 2, 6 months after surgery each patient will be called to assess neuropathic pain with Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI).

Written consent will be obtained before the cesarean section. Only subarachnoidally anaesthetised patients may participate in the study. Pencil-point spinal needle and bupivacaine (Marcaine Heavy Spinal 0.5 %) will be used. At the end of surgery ultrasound-guided regional block will be performed. Each patient will be randomly allocated to one of the treated group: transversus abdominis plane block (TAP) or quadratus lumborum (QL). Patients receive 0.2 mL of local anesthetic solution (0.25 % bupivacaine) on each side. Postoperative pain will be measured with VAS (visual-analogue scale) 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after the end of operation. Paracetamol, metamizol, ketoprofen may be given as required. Whenever pain exceeds 40 (VAS) 5 mg of morphine will be given intravenously (maximum two dosages per day). 1, 3, 6 months patients will be called to assess neuropathic pain. Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) will be used.

ultrasound-guided regional block between abdominal wall muscles to treat acute postoperative pain. Stimuplex Ultra 360 needle will be used and 0.25% bupivacaine administered (0.2 mL/kg).

ultrasound-guided regional block between abdominal wall muscles to treat acute pain, similar to transversus abdominis plane block, but with distribution of local anesthetic towards paravertebral space. Stimuplex Ultra 360 needle will be used and 0.25% bupivacaine administered (0.2 mL/kg).

Inclusion Criteria: obtained consent singleton pregnancy subarachnoid anaesthesia Exclusion Criteria: coagulopathy allergy to to local anesthetics depression, antidepressant drugs treatment epilepsy usage of painkiller before surgery addiction to alcohol or recreational drugs

Kadam VR. Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block as a postoperative analgesic technique for laparotomy. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Oct;29(4):550-2. doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.119148.

Kadam VR. Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block or posterior transversus abdominis plane block catheter infusion as a postoperative analgesic technique for abdominal surgery. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Jan-Mar;31(1):130-1. doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.150575. No abstract available.

Kanazi GE, Aouad MT, Abdallah FW, Khatib MI, Adham AM, Harfoush DW, Siddik-Sayyid SM. The analgesic efficacy of subarachnoid morphine in comparison with ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block after cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial. Anesth Analg. 2010 Aug;111(2):475-81. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181e30b9f. Epub 2010 May 20.