Effect of Quadratus Lumborum Block on Pain and Stress Response after Video Laparoscopic Surgeries: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: There are many surgical and anesthetic factors that affect pain and the endocrine–metabolic response to trauma. The ability of anesthetic agents and neuronal blockade to modify the response to surgical trauma has been widely studied in the last few years. Objective: To evaluate if the anterior quadratus lumborum block contributes to improved surgical recovery, using as parameters analgesia, pulmonary function and neuroendocrine response to trauma. Methods: We carried out a prospective, randomized, controlled, and blinded study, in which 51 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomly selected and assigned to 2 groups. The control group received balanced general anesthesia and venous analgesia, and the intervention group was treated under general, venous analgesia and anterior quadratus lumborum block. The parameters evaluated were: demographic data, postoperative pain, respiratory muscle pressure and inflammatory response to surgical stress with the plasma dosage of IL-6 (Interleukin 6), CRP (C-Reactive protein) and cortisol. Results: Anterior quadratus lumborum block induced the slowing of IL-6 cytokine production and a decrease in cortisol release. This effect was accompanied by the significant reduction of postoperative pain scores. Conclusion: Anterior quadratus lumborum block is an important strategy for analgesia in abdominal laparoscopic surgery and contributes to reducing the inflammatory response to surgical trauma with an early return of preoperative baseline physiological functions.