Efficacy of ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block as postoperative analgesia in renal transplantation recipients: A randomised double blind clinical study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Postoperative pain following renal transplantation is moderate to severe. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a new block that can provide effective analgesia following abdominal and retroperitoneal surgeries. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of QLB for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing renal transplantation. METHODS: Patients were randomised into two groups of 30 each. In group A (block group), 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine and group B (placebo group), 20 mLof normal saline were injected. In the postoperative room, an intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IVPCA) pump with fentanyl was started in both the group. The postoperatively recorded parameters were numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score at rest and on movement and coughing, total fentanyl consumption, sedation score, postoperative nausea vomiting, limb weakness, paralytic ileus, and any other block-related complication. Data were analysed using SPSS software version 22.0. Categorical data were analysed using the Chi-square method. Student t test or Mann–Whitney U test was applied for the continuous data. Numerical data with normal distribution were displayed as mean (standard deviation), abnormal distribution was displayed in the median (interquartile range) values, and as a percentage for categorical variables. RESULTS: Fentanyl consumption, numerical rating score, and sedation score were significantly less in group A when compared to group B at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Type-1 QLB significantly reduces fentanyl consumption and NRS pain score at 1,4,8,12, and 24 h in the postoperative period in renal transplant recipients.