Yayik AM. et al., 2019: Less painful ESWL with ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block: a prospective randomized controlled study
Yayik AM, Ahiskalioglu A, Alici HA, Celik EC, Cesur S, Ahiskalioglu EO, Demirdogen SO, Karaca O, Adanur S.
Department of Anesthesiology, Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
Department of Urology, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.
Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Baskent University, Konya, Turkey.
Abstract
Objectives: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has been widely used for the treatment of urinary tract stones and is usually administered as an outpatient procedure, although the vast majority of patients do not tolerate it without sedoanalgesia. The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newly-defined technique for abdominal surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided QLB in ESWL. Materials and methods: Forty patients, aged 18-65, with ASA physical status I-II and scheduled for ESWL were randomly assigned to Group C (control group) and Group QLB (treatment group). Group QLB received single-shot USG-guided transmuscular QLB with 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 10 ml of 2% lidocaine before a 20-min ESWL procedure. No intervention was performed on Group C. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, opioid consumption, patient satisfaction, ESWL and stone details were recorded. Results: VAS scores were significantly lower in Group QLB at all time intervals (p < 0.05). Fentanyl consumption during ESWL was significantly lower in Group QLB than in Group C (p < 0.001). The fragmentation success rate was significantly higher in Group QLB than in Group C (19/20 vs 14/20, respectively, p = 0.046). Patient satisfaction was also higher in Group QLB (p = 0.011). Conclusions: This study shows that QLB provided adequate analgesia for ESWL and that it reduced extra opioid consumption significantly compared to the control group
Scand J Urol. 2019 Sep 9:1-6. doi: 10.1080/21681805.2019.1658636. [Epub ahead of print]
Comments 1
The patients in the treatment arm were not asked how much they were bothered by the QLB procedure and there was no control group with placebo injection. But otherwise this is a nice, small study with clear-cut design and results which may help to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.