Effects of TAP and QLB-1 Blocks on Opioid Consumption

NCT ID: NCT06663345

Last Updated: 2026-01-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-12-25
• Study Completion Date: 2026-07-28

Brief Summary

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with less pain than open surgery and a shorter recovery time. While the type of pain experienced after laparoscopy differs from that experienced after laparotomy, it is predominantly parietal pain (originating from the abdominal wall). However, patients also report visceral pain due to pneumoperitoneum. Various analgesic procedures, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and regional anesthesia techniques, are employed as part of multimodal analgesia for postoperative pain. Regional anesthesia techniques for abdominal surgery include thoracic epidural analgesia, paravertebral block, and transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. TAP block, one of the truncal blocks, has been utilized in numerous studies in the literature for the management of postoperative pain following abdominal surgery. TAPB is a nerve block technique that blocks sensory nerves by injecting local anesthetic into the plane between the transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles. Although TAPB can effectively relieve somatic pain in patients undergoing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, it may not be suitable for visceral analgesia. Another truncal block that has gained recent attention is the Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB). QLB is another nerve block technique that blocks sensory nerves by injecting local anesthetic into the interfascial plane between the quadratus lumborum and psoas muscles. QLB offers several advantages, including the ability to provide both somatic and visceral analgesia. This comprehensive approach can result in more effective postoperative analgesia during laparoscopic surgical procedures. Additionally, the use of TAPB or QLB may reduce opioid consumption, potentially improving analgesia in laparoscopic surgeries. The quadratus lumborum muscle can be blocked in four different ways: lateral, posterior, anterior, and intramuscular. In our study, the lateral quadratus lumborum block was the preferred approach. Opioids are the most commonly used narcotic analgesics for postoperative pain. Patients often require opioids for pain relief in the perioperative period, especially in abdominal surgery. However, the use of opioids can lead to a variety of side effects, including excessive sedation, postoperative nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, constipation, hyperalgesia, respiratory depression and immunosuppression. Opioids may have various effects on immune function, including modulation of cytokines, interaction with immune cells, affecting the neuroendocrine system and vascular permeability. These effects may contribute to postoperative complications such as infections and delayed wound healing due to increased inflammatory response. They may also prolong hospitalization. In order to reduce postoperative opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects, ultrasound-guided trunk block techniques are being developed in abdominal surgeries. Currently, ultrasound-guided multimodal analgesia techniques are widely used. Transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and quadratus lumborum block (QLB) are effective analgesic methods employed in conjunction with multimodal analgesia techniques during anesthesia. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of TAPB (transversus abdominis plane block) and QLB-1 (lateral quadratus lumborum block), which are frequently used in our clinic, on postoperative pain scores and the need for additional analgesics. Secondary objectives included postoperative opioid consumption, nausea and vomiting, hospital stay, and patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

TAP (Transversus Abdominis Plan) Block

A bilateral TAP or QLB-1 block will be performed. This block is a standard procedure in our hospital for the management of postoperative pain.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transversus Abdominis Plan Block (TAPB), Lateral Quadratum Lumborum (QLB-1) Block

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Following the acquisition of informed consent prior to surgery, 2 mg of intravenous midazolam will be administered to patients who volunteer. These patients will be monitored in the preoperative preparation room. Bilateral TAP or QLB-1 block will be performed, and this block is routinely applied for postoperative pain in our hospital.

QLB-1 (Lateral Quadratum Lumborum ) Block

Investigation of the efficacy of QLB-1 block compared to TAP block.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Transversus Abdominis Plan Block (TAPB), Lateral Quadratum Lumborum (QLB-1) Block

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Following the acquisition of informed consent prior to surgery, 2 mg of intravenous midazolam will be administered to patients who volunteer. These patients will be monitored in the preoperative preparation room. Bilateral TAP or QLB-1 block will be performed, and this block is routinely applied for postoperative pain in our hospital.

Interventions

Transversus Abdominis Plan Block (TAPB), Lateral Quadratum Lumborum (QLB-1) Block

Following the acquisition of informed consent prior to surgery, 2 mg of intravenous midazolam will be administered to patients who volunteer. These patients will be monitored in the preoperative preparation room. Bilateral TAP or QLB-1 block will be performed, and this block is routinely applied for postoperative pain in our hospital.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• - Consenting patients,
• He's having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy,
• ASA-I-II,
• Between the ages of 18 and 64,
• No history of anticoagulant or antiaggregant drug use,
• Regional anesthesia is not contraindicated and the anesthesiologist is deemed appropriate for regional anesthesia,
• Under general anesthesia and undergoing laparoscopic surgery,
• Oriented and cooperative patients,

Exclusion Criteria

• - Patients without consent
• Regional anesthesia is contraindicated,
• He's having open abdominal surgery,
• Not in the appropriate age range,
• Chronic diseases such as uncontrolled DM and HT,
• Drug allergy,
• Taking anticoagulants or antiaggregants,
• History of chronic analgesic use,
• Presence of active infection in the area to be blocked,
• Will not be able to comply with postoperative pain /VAS follow-up,
• Patients with ASA-IV-V

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 64 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Emine OZCAN

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Emine OZCAN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

Locations

Başakşehir Çam ve Sakura Şehir Hastanesi

Istanbul, Başakşehir, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

Emine OZCAN, MD

Role: CONTACT

dr.emine3419@gmail.com

+905301592856

Funda GUMUS OZCAN, Prof.

Role: CONTACT

fgumus@hotmail.com

+905305245654

Facility Contacts

Emine Ozcan, MD

Role: primary

dr.emine3419@gmail.com

+905301592856

References

Gao T, Wang Y, Zheng Y, Yu Y, Li Q, Zhang L. Quadratus lumborum block vs. transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative pain control in patients with nephrectomy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Clin Anesth. 2024 Aug;95:111453. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2024.111453. Epub 2024 Mar 25.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 38531283 (View on PubMed)

Marcolin P, Amaral S, Motter SB, Brandao GR, de Oliveira Trindade B, Messer N, Poli de Figueiredo SM. Quadratus lumborum block versus transversus abdominis plane block for inguinal hernia repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. World J Surg. 2024 Mar;48(3):610-621. doi: 10.1002/wjs.12064. Epub 2024 Jan 24.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 38265244 (View on PubMed)

Dai J, Lin S, Cui X, Xu Z, Zheng R, Wu D. The effects of ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB combined with opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) on clinical efficacy of the patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Heliyon. 2023 Oct 11;9(10):e20878. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20878. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 37867884 (View on PubMed)

Sertcakacilar G, Yildiz GO. Analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block and lateral approach quadratus lumborum block after laparoscopic appendectomy: A randomized controlled trial. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Jun 14;79:104002. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104002. eCollection 2022 Jul.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 35860161 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

EK3419

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id