Comparison of Local Anesthetic Infiltration and Different Fascial Plane Blocks in Inguinal Hernia Repair

Eskisehir Osmangazi University90 enrolled

Overview

In this study, quadratus lumborum block (QLB), transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, and local anesthetic infiltration will be performed preoperatively in patients who will undergo unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy operation under general anesthesia. Quality of recovery (QoR-15) score, postoperative acute and chronic pain levels will be evaluated.

Inguinal hernia repair, one of the most common operations, causes moderate to severe postoperative pain. The postoperative pain delays patients' recovery and return to daily life, increases the rate of readmission to the hospital, and can lead to persistent postoperative pain.Procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) recommendations for optimal pain management have been recently updated. Accordingly, in addition to preoperative or intraoperative paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, local anesthetic infiltration and/or regional analgesia techniques (ilio-inguinal nerve blocks or TAP block) with rescue opioids are recommended. Also, it has been reported that further research is needed on new regional techniques (other fascial plane blocks etc).It has been shown that QLB potentially results in extensive sensory blockade (T7-12), and in cadaver studies, the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves are constantly involved. In addition, there are studies suggesting that it provides much longer analgesia than TAP block. There are few studies on its efficacy in inguinal hernia repair that are in pediatric cases or performed in addition to central blocks. It is hypothesized that QLB may provide better and longer analgesia, may increase the quality of recovery and reduce the development of resistant chronic pain, compared to other regional methods such as local infiltration or TAP block, that proven effectiveness.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who will undergo elective unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia * American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical classification I-III Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who will undergo laparoscopic surgery * Previous inguinal hernia repair surgery * A history of opioid use or pain management * Coagulopathy or anticoagulant use * Patients who have difficulty communicating or who are not cooperative

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Quality of recovery assessed by Quality of recovery scale (QoR-15)

The 15-item quality of recovery (QoR-15) scale is a questionnaire used to evaluate the postoperative recovery quality of patients in the early postoperative stages. The QoR-15 score comprises 15 questions that assess 5 recovery domains, namely, physical comfort, physical independence, psychological support, emotional status, and pain. Each question is scored from 0 to 10 (0 none of the time to 10 all of the time).

Time frame: Postoperative 24th hour.

Secondary Outcomes

Postoperative pain assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

Postoperative pain levels during rest and movement (from supine to sitting position) will be evaluated by Numerical rating scale (0-no pain; 10-unbearable pain)

Time frame: At the 2nd, 6th, 12th, 24th and 36th hours

Postoperative chronic pain assessed by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

Patients will be called by phone and the presence of chronic pain will be questioned with the Numerical Rating Scale (0-no pain; 10-unbearable pain).

Time frame: Three months later the operation date

Postoperative neuropathic pain assessed by Douleur neuropathic pain (DN4) scale.

Patients will be called by phone and the presence of neuropathic pain pain will be questioned with the Douleur neuropathic pain (DN4) scale. The items of the DN4 are scored based on a yes (1 point) /no (0 points) answer. This leads to a score range of 0-10.