Perioperative Effects of Lateral Quadratus Lumborum Block in Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography

Perioperative Effects of Lateral Quadratus Lumborum Block in Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography: Prospective Observational Study

The frequency of non-operating room anesthesia (ADA) applications is increasing and has gained an important place in anesthesia practice. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) procedures applied in interventional radiology are also examples of ADA. It is frequently applied for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cases where obstruction is observed in the bile ducts for any reason. Providing a balanced and comfortable anesthesia during PTC procedures reduces postoperative complications and increases patient and clinician satisfaction. General anesthesia, sedoanesthesia and regional anesthesia can be applied in PTCs. Due to the perioperative complications and undesirable side effects of general anesthesia, it is not the first choice in PTCs. Sedoanesthesia and regional anesthesia are widely applied in PTCs. Postoperative pain is the most important parameter affecting patient satisfaction in this surgery. Inadequate treatment of postoperative pain can reduce the quality of life and cause chronic pain syndromes. In order to effectively combat pain; regional methods are frequently used in addition to intravenous analgesics. For PTC patients, Erector Spinae Plane Block, Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) and Subcostal TAP block can be applied covering the T6-L1 dermatome. Since the pain in PTC patients is of visceral and somatic origin, the one with the highest analgesic efficacy is QLB. 4 different techniques of QLB have been defined in the literature and these techniques are; lateral, posterior, anterior transmuscular and intramuscular. Local anesthetic spread is relatively low in the intramuscular technique, while the risk of complications is high in the transmuscular technique. However, lateral and posterior techniques are not superior to each other, and the experience of the clinician is effective in the selection of the technique. The mechanism of action of QLB depends on ipsilateral paravertebral and epidural local anesthetic spread. There are studies in the literature that QLB is used in trunk and abdominal surgeries; provides effective analgesia and reduces the amount of opioid consumed. Due to all these effects, interest in QLB is increasing and its use is becoming widespread. Lateral QLB application: In the left lateral decubitus position, the curvelinear (5-1 MHz) USG probe is placed in the iliac crest and subcostal area at the level of T8-10. Then, the probe is directed posteriorly and cranially to provide detailed visualization of the anterolateral surface of the vertebral body with the transverse process. The probe is slightly tilted to identify the psoas major, quadratus lumborum and erector spinae muscles. The typical image of these 3 muscles forms a three-leaf 'clover' pattern. With the lateral approach, at the point where the transverse abdominis muscle ends, hydrodissection is performed with 2 cc physiological serum to the lateral side of the quadratus lumborum to confirm the location. Then, a total of 20 cc blocking fluid consisting of 14 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine and 6 cc of 2% lidocaine is injected into this area. The blocking fluid is applied in divided doses of 5 cc with intermittent negative aspiration. In our clinic, multimodal anesthesia/analgesia method is preferred in patients undergoing PTC procedure. Peripheral nerve blocks (for all patients who are suitable and accept) are routinely used together with intravenous analgesic agents. The applied block aims to reduce the amount of opioid consumed perioperatively, faster postoperative recovery, lower postoperative VAS scores, lower postoperative analgesia consumption and earlier mobilization. QLB is routinely applied in suitable patients undergoing PTC. Patients who are subjected to sedoanesthesia and those who are subjected to QLB together with sedoanesthesia will be included in the study. The anesthesiologist who provides the anesthesia management of the patients and the anesthesiologist who monitors the patient's pain will be different individuals.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Opioid Consumption; Demographic Data; Visual Analog Score; Rescue Analgesic Status and Time
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Sedation; Procedure: Sedation + Quadratus Lumborum Block

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 52
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara
    • Altındağ, Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye), 06000
      • Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Those between the ages of 18-80
• Those with ASA score I-II-III
• Those with body mass index (BMI) between 18-40
• Patients who underwent sedoanesthesia and sedoanesthesia and QLB for PTC procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those under 18 and over 80
• Those with ASA score IV and above
• Those with advanced co-morbidities
• Those with a history of bleeding diathesis
• Patients with an infection in the area where the block will be performed
• Those with a BMI below 18 and above 40
• Patients who underwent surgery under emergency conditions
• Those who are pregnant
• Those with opioid and local anesthetic allergies-
• Those with chronic pain syndrome

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: group sedation; Preoperatively, 2 mg intravenous midazolam was administered to the patients. Intravenous 0.5 mg/kg propofol and 0.5 mcg/kg fentanyl were used for induction. Intravenous 0.5-1 mg/kg propofol was administered to provide an intraoperative bispectral index of 40-60, and when the Vizel analog score was >4, intravenous 0.1-1 mcg/kg remifentanil was administered. Postoperatively, 1 g paracetamol was routinely administered. When the Vizel analog score was >4, 50 mg dexketoprofen was administered as a rescue analgesic. Postoperative 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th hour visual analog scores of the patients were recorded.	Procedure: Sedation; Preoperatively, 2 mg intravenous midazolam was administered to the patients. Intravenous 0.5 mg/kg propofol and 0.5 mcg/kg fentanyl were used for induction. Intravenous 0.5-1 mg/kg propofol was administered to provide an intraoperative bispectral index of 40-60, and when the Vizel analog score was >4, intravenous 0.1-1 mcg/kg remifentanil was administered.
Active Comparator: Group sedation+ Quadratus Lumborum Block; Before the procedure, the patient was placed in the left lateral position and a Quadratus Lumborum Block was applied at the thoracic 8-10 level. A total of 20 cc blocking fluid consisting of 14 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine and 6 cc of 2% lidocaine was used for the block. A minimum of 30 minutes was waited after the block. 2 mg of intravenous midazolam was administered before being taken to the operating room. Intravenous 0.5 mg/kg propofol and 0.5 mcg/kg fentanyl were used for induction. Intravenous 0.5-1 mg/kg propofol was administered to provide an intraoperative bispectral index of 40-60, and intravenous 0.1-1 mcg/kg remifentanil was administered when the Vizel analog score was > 4. Postoperatively, 1 g of paracetamol was routinely administered. When the Vizel analog score was > 4, 50 mg of dexketoprofen was administered as a rescue analgesic. Postoperative 2nd, 6th, 12th and 24th hour visual analog scores of the patients were recorded.	Procedure: Sedation + Quadratus Lumborum Block; Before the procedure, the patient was placed in the left lateral position and a Quadratus Lumborum Block was applied at the thoracic 8-10 level. A total of 20 cc blocking fluid consisting of 14 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine and 6 cc of 2% lidocaine was used for the block. A minimum of 30 minutes was waited after the block. 2 mg of intravenous midazolam was administered before being taken to the operating room. Intravenous 0.5 mg/kg propofol and 0.5 mcg/kg fentanyl were used for induction. Intravenous 0.5-1 mg/kg propofol was administered to provide an intraoperative bispectral index of 40-60, and intravenous 0.1-1 mcg/kg remifentanil was administered when the Vizel analog score was >4.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intraoperative remifentanil consumption.	Intraoperative remifentanil consumption will be recorded.	Intraoperative period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intraoperative propofol consumption.	Intraoperative propofol consumption will be recorded.	Intraoperative period
Pain Scores	Pain will be assessed at rest and coughing using the visual analog scale on a scale form 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). Pain assessment will be done at the 2nd, 6th, 12th, 24th hours after the surgery. Visual analog scale 10 (worst) severe, unbearable pain; 0 (best) no pain.	24 hours after surgery
Postoperative rescue analgesic	atients with a VAS score of 4 and above will receive rescue analgesia.	During the postoperative 24 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ankara Etlik City Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Seyyid Furkan Kına, MD, Ankara Etlik City Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 11, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 29, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 7, 2026
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Interventional Radiology; Quadratus lumborum block; Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography
• Other Study ID Numbers: AEŞH-EK1-2024-0061

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No