QL Block Versus EO Plane Block for Analgesia After Open Nephrectomy

Overview

This prospective randomized clinical trial aims to compare two ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques, the transmuscular quadratus lumborum (QL) block and the external oblique (EO) plane block, for pain relief after open nephrectomy. Open nephrectomy is a major surgical procedure that can cause significant postoperative pain and may require opioid medications for adequate pain control. Adult patients undergoing open nephrectomy at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, who meet the study eligibility criteria will be randomly assigned to receive either a QL block or an EO plane block before surgery. Both techniques will be performed under ultrasound guidance using bupivacaine in addition to standardized general anesthesia and multimodal postoperative analgesia. The main purpose of the study is to determine whether the QL block provides better postoperative analgesia than the EO plane block. The primary outcome will be the total amount of intravenous morphine consumed during the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes will include postoperative pain scores, time to first request for rescue analgesia, hemodynamic changes, recovery time, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects related to analgesia or the regional anesthesia techniques. A total of 54 patients will be enrolled and randomly allocated equally between the two treatment groups.

The study is a prospective, randomized clinical trial designed to compare the analgesic efficacy of the transmuscular quadratus lumborum block with the external oblique plane block in adult patients undergoing open nephrectomy. Open nephrectomy is associated with substantial postoperative pain because of the extent of the surgical incision, muscular dissection, and manipulation of retroperitoneal structures. Effective postoperative analgesia is important to facilitate recovery, mobilization, respiratory function, and patient comfort while minimizing opioid requirements. The quadratus lumborum block is a posterior abdominal wall fascial plane block in which local anesthetic is deposited in relation to the quadratus lumborum muscle. The technique may provide analgesia over several thoracoabdominal dermatomes and may have both somatic and visceral analgesic effects. The external oblique plane block is a more superficial fascial plane technique that targets the lateral abdominal wall and may provide effective somatic analgesia. Eligible patients will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a transmuscular QL block or an EO plane block before induction of general anesthesia. All patients will receive standardized general anesthesia and multimodal postoperative analgesia. The regional blocks will be performed under ultrasound guidance by an experienced anesthesiologist. The primary outcome is total intravenous morphine consumption during the first 24 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes include pain intensity at predefined postoperative time points, both at rest and with movement; time to first request for rescue analgesia; intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic changes; recovery time; patient satisfaction; and adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, and complications related to the regional anesthesia technique. The study will evaluate whether the QL block provides superior postoperative analgesia and opioid-sparing effects compared with the EO plane block following open nephrectomy.