Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block (ESP-QLB-Peds)

January 8, 2026 updated by: Amr omar abdulrazzaq omar, Assiut University

Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block for Post Operative Analgesia in Pediatric Kidney Surgery

To compare the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided ESPB versus QLB for post-operative analgesia in children undergoing kidney surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The management of postoperative pain in pediatric kidney surgery is a critical component of enhanced recovery and improved patient outcomes. Effective analgesia minimizes opioid consumption and their associated side effects, facilitating early mobilization and discharge. Regional anesthesia techniques have gained prominence as opioid-sparing modalities in pediatric patients, with the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) increasingly used in abdominal and renal surgeries.

The erector spinae plane block is a fascial plane block targeting the dorsal rami of spinal nerves, providing extensive analgesia for thoracic and abdominal procedures. It is considered relatively easy and safe to perform under ultrasound guidance and has been associated with effective postoperative analgesia and reduced opioid requirements in pediatric renal surgery. Additional advantages include shorter block performance time and a lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting compared with other regional techniques.

The quadratus lumborum block involves local anesthetic deposition near the quadratus lumborum muscle and can be performed using different approaches, such as anterior and transmuscular techniques. These approaches provide both somatic and visceral analgesia for lower abdominal and renal surgeries. Continuous quadratus lumborum block has demonstrated effective postoperative pain control, reduced need for rescue analgesia, and minimal adverse events in pediatric renal procedures. It is also recognized for its favorable safety profile and its contribution to improved quality of recovery.

Although both ESPB and QLB are effective regional techniques for pediatric postoperative analgesia, studies comparing their efficacy have reported variable results. Some investigations have shown comparable pain scores and opioid consumption between the two blocks, while others suggest potential advantages of one technique over the other in terms of analgesic duration, side-effect profile, or patient satisfaction.

Pain assessment in pediatric patients remains challenging because of differences in age, cognitive development, and communication abilities. This necessitates the use of objective pain scoring systems and careful perioperative analgesic planning. Consequently, evaluating and comparing the analgesic efficacy and safety of these two regional blocks in pediatric kidney surgery is of particular clinical importance.

The rationale of this study is to provide direct comparative evidence on the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided ESPB versus QLB for postoperative analgesia in pediatric kidney surgery. Clarifying which technique offers superior analgesic control with fewer side effects may help optimize perioperative pain management protocols and improve postoperative outcomes. This study aims to assess postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, block-related complications, and recovery quality in order to guide anesthetic decision-making in pediatric renal surgery

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Children of both sexes, aged 2-12 years, with ASA physical status I-II scheduled for elective unilateral kidney surgery will be eligible.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Infection at the site of needle insertion
  • Allergy to local anesthetics
  • Parental refusal of consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Erector spinae plane block
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed at the thoracic level using a multi-shot technique after completion of surgery and before extubation for pediatric kidney surgery to provide postoperative analgesia.
Procedure: Quadratus lumborum block teqnique

All blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance. A high-frequency linear probe was positioned in the mid-axillary line cranial to the iliac crest to identify the abdominal wall muscles (external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis). The probe was then moved dorsally until the transversus abdominis muscle became aponeurotic, which was followed medially to visualize the quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle at its attachment to the L4 transverse process adjacent to the psoas muscle.

Using an in-plane anterior-to-posterior approach, the block needle was advanced toward the anterior border of the QL muscle. After confirming the needle tip position with a 1 ml saline test injection, 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine was administered. Bilateral injections were performed for midline incisions, while unilateral injections were used for paramedian incisions.

Procedure: Erector spinae plane block Technique
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed at the thoracic level using a single-shot technique in pediatric patients undergoing kidney surgery to provide postoperative analgesia. Local anesthetic is injected deep to the erector spinae muscle over the transverse process with expected craniocaudal spread.
Active Comparator: Quadratus lumborum block
Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block performed using a multi-shot technique, after completion of surgery and before extubation of anesthesia for pediatric kidney surgery to provide postoperative analgesia.
Procedure: Quadratus lumborum block teqnique

All blocks were performed under ultrasound guidance. A high-frequency linear probe was positioned in the mid-axillary line cranial to the iliac crest to identify the abdominal wall muscles (external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis). The probe was then moved dorsally until the transversus abdominis muscle became aponeurotic, which was followed medially to visualize the quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle at its attachment to the L4 transverse process adjacent to the psoas muscle.

Using an in-plane anterior-to-posterior approach, the block needle was advanced toward the anterior border of the QL muscle. After confirming the needle tip position with a 1 ml saline test injection, 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine was administered. Bilateral injections were performed for midline incisions, while unilateral injections were used for paramedian incisions.

Procedure: Erector spinae plane block Technique
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed at the thoracic level using a single-shot technique in pediatric patients undergoing kidney surgery to provide postoperative analgesia. Local anesthetic is injected deep to the erector spinae muscle over the transverse process with expected craniocaudal spread.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to first rescue analgesia
Time Frame: 24 hours
measured from extubation until the first request/administration of analgesia, in hours
24 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total analgesic consumption
Time Frame: 24 hours
Total 24-hour postoperative analgesic consumption (mg/kg paracetamol, µg/kg fentanyl).
24 hours
Postoperative pain score
Time Frame: 24 hours
FLACC pain score assessed at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.
24 hours
Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting
Time Frame: 24 hours
Incidence of PONV within 24 hours postoperatively.
24 hours
Block-related complications
Time Frame: 24 hours
Incidence of block-related complications.
24 hours
Postoperative hemodynamic stability
Time Frame: 24 hours
Changes in heart rate and blood pressure >20% from baseline.
24 hours
Parent satisfaction
Time Frame: 24 hours
Parent satisfaction measured using a 5-point Likert scale.
24 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Assiut University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 25, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 28, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 30, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 25, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 8, 2026

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pediatric-Block-Study-2025

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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