A Trial Comparing Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) and Paravertebral Block (PVTB) for Postoperative Analgesia in Hepatectomy

Summary

Pain after hepatectomy can interfere with the patients' recovery and may contribute to developing long term pain. Opioids, e.g. morphine, fentanyl, sufentanil, works well for postoperative analgesia, but have several side effects such as nausea, vomiting and itching which may be severe enough to affect patients' recovery. In some cases, opioids may cause constipation and urinary retention within the first 24 hours after surgery. Thus, several ultrasound-guided nerve block procedures have been applied to provide postoperative analgesia. Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is one of the most used nerve block methods using for post-hepatectomy analgesia. However, in some cases, ultrasound-guided TPVB can cause pneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, and higher block level. The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a new developed nerve block which can provide a widespread analgesic effect from T7 to L1. Therefore, this study is to determine whether QLB or TPVB have a better pain control with fewer side effects and complications after laparoscopic and open hepatectomy. The adequate pain control will be assessed by their visual analogue score (VAS) and the postoperative quality of recovery scale (QoR-15, Chinese Version). Additionally, the side effect and complications profile of these two nerve block techniques will also be recorded and compared.

Conditions

• Quadratus Lumborum Block
• Thoracic Paravertebral Block
• Postoperative Analgesia
• Hepatectomy

Interventions

OTHER

Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia

PCIA solution: 2 μg/kg weight sufentanil and 8.96 mg tropisetron mesylate diluted in 100 ml normal saline；PCIA parameters: loading dose: 2 ml, background infusion: 2ml/h, bolus: 0.5ml, lockout-time: 15min; PCA duration: 48 hours from the end of suturing

OTHER

Quadratus Lumborum Block

Ultrasound-guided Quadratus lumborum block: A broadband (5-8 MHz) convex transducer will be placed transversely in the abdominal flank above the iliac crest to identify the external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis muscles and aponeurosis. Then the external oblique muscle will be followed posteriorly until its posterior border is visualized (hook sign), and the posterior aspect of the Quadratus lumborum muscle is confirmed. A 22-G, 11-mm, short-bevel facet needle will be advanced under direct ultrasound visualization in-plane from anterolateral to postero-medial. Then the 20 ml of 0.375 % ropivacaine will be injected into the lumbar inter-facial triangle (LIFT) behind the quadratus lumborum muscle using hydro-dissection.

OTHER

Thoracic Paravertebral Block

Ultrasound-guided Thoracic paravertebral block: The patient is placed in the lateral position, the spinous processes of T6 and T8 are identified and marks are made 2cm lateral to the spinous processes. The linear(L12-3) probe is placed transversally at the mark to identify the paravertebral space. Then a 22-G needle is inserted in-plane from lateral to medial and advanced until the tip reached the paravertebral space surrounded by the parietal pleura and the superior costotransverse ligament. Then 15 ml 0.375% ropivacaine is injected into the paravertebral space of T6 and T8.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tao Tao, MD · Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-05-09

Primary Completion

2020-06-30

Completion

2020-12-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations