Regional Analgesia After Cesarean Section

Efficacy of Regional Analgesia Techniques (Quadratus Lumborum Block and Transversus Abdominis Plane Block) in Acute and Chronic Pain Treatment in Patients After Cesarean Delivery

All patients will be anaesthetized with spinal technique. Each patient will be treated with intravenous morphine - patient controlled analgesia (PCA). 2 of 3 groups of patients will receive ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane or quadratus lumborum block to treat postoperative pain. Postoperative pain will measured with visual-analogue scale (VAS). Total morphine consumption and time to the first demand will be noted. 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. All patients will receive PCA (patient controlled analgesia) pump with morphine (1 mg/mL, 5 minute interval, no loading dose) after transfer to PACU (post-anesthesia care unit). In PACU vital signs will be monitored. Each patient will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. In the first group of patients no additional regional analgesia will be performed. In the second and the third group, ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane or quadratus lumborum block will be done with 0.375 % ropivacaine (0.2 ml per kg 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. 1, 3, 6 months patients will be called to assess neuropathic pain. Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) will be used.

Subarchnoid anesthesia with bupivacaine TAP (transversus abdominis plane block) ultrasound-guided regional block between abdominal wall muscles to treat acute postoperative pain. Stimuplex Ultra 360 needle will be used and 0.375 % ropivacaine administered (0.2 mL/kg) at the and of cesarean section. PCA with morphine in the PACU

Subarchnoid anesthesia with bupivacaine QLB (quadratus lumborum block) ultrasound-guided regional block between abdominal wall muscles to treat acute postoperative pain. Stimuplex Ultra 360 needle will be used and 0.375 % ropivacaine administered (0.2 mL/kg) at the and of cesarean section. PCA with morphine in the PACU

All patients will receive PCA pump with morphine (1 mg/mL, 5 minute interval, no loading dose) after transfer to PACU (post-anesthesia care unit)

Inclusion Criteria: obtained consent singleton pregnancy subarachnoid anaesthesia Exclusion Criteria: coagulopathy allergy to morphine and 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.

Borys M, Zamaro A, Horeczy B, Geszka E, Janiak M, Wegrzyn P, Czuczwar M, Piwowarczyk P. Quadratus Lumborum and Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks and Their Impact on Acute and Chronic Pain in Patients after Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 28;18(7):3500. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073500.