Ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block reduced postoperative opioids consumptions in patients after laparoscopic hepatectomy: a three-arm randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether transmuscular quadratus lumborum block (TQLB) combined with oxycodone-based patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) compared with sufentanil-based patient-controlled intravenous analgesia could reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy surgery were randomly divided into Group S (Sufentanil for PCIA group), Group O (Oxycodone for PCIA group) and Group QO (transmuscular quadratus lumborum block + oxycodone for PCIA group). Primary outcome was Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score when coughing at 6th hour after the operation. We summarized opioid consumption and recorded complications, opioid drug adverse reaction and analgesia satisfaction. RESULTS: NRS pain scores were significantly lower in Group QO while patients coughing at 6th hour after the operation compared with Group S and Group O (median (interquartile range [IQR]):Group S vs. Group O vs. Group QO 4.0 [3.0, 5.0] vs. 4.0[3.0,5.0]vs.3.0 [2.0, 3.0], p < 0.05). Within 24 h after surgery, the bolus times of PCIA (patient controlled intravenous analgesia) in the QO group was reduced which was compared with the Group S and Group O (median (interquartile range [IQR]):Group S vs. Group O vs. Group QO 13.0 [10.3, 19.5] vs. 11.5 [7.8, 18.3]vs.6.5[3.5,12.0], p < 0.05). The proportion of patients in the three groups who required additional analgesia was ranked as Group QO < Group O < Group S(p < 0.05). The analgesic satisfaction of patients in Group QO was higher than the Group S (p = 0.001) and Group O (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: TQLB combined with oxycodone-based PCIA provided satisfactory postoperative analgesia and reduced oxycodone consumption in patients following laparoscopic hepatectomy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900028467 (22/12/2019). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-021-01255-3.