Quadratus Lumborum Block to Improve Postoperative Pain Management After Laparoscopic Myomectomies: a Double-blinded and Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial.
Summary
This study aims to determine the efficacy of a quadratus lumborum (QL) block in decreasing postoperative pain in patients undergoing myomectomy for uterine fibroids. A QL block is a temporary anesthetic injection in the quadratus lumborum muscle, a muscle in the lower back, that has been previously shown to significantly reduce postoperative pain levels in patients undergoing abdominal and pelvic surgery. Because of its demonstrated effects, the QL block is becoming a standard of anesthesia and surgical care. Since participants will be undergoing a myomectomy procedure, the investigators believe that participants may qualify to participate in this study. The investigators will be comparing patients who receive the QL block (in addition to standard anesthesia and postoperative pain care) with patients who do not receive the QL block (in addition to standard care). The participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups and may or may not actually receive the block.
Arms & interventions
- DrugBupivacain
30cc IM injection in each quadratus lumborum muscle (60cc total).
- DrugSaline
30cc IM injection in each quadratus lumborum muscle (60cc total).
Outcome measures
Primary
Time in minutes from first analgesic request as measured by medical chart review
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Total number of doses of rescue analgesics given as measured by medical chart review
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Secondary
Pain as measured by visual analog scale (VAS)
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after discharge from hospital.
Patient satisfaction with perioperative pain management measured on a scale of 1-10
Time frame: Up to 48 hours after discharge from hospital.
Eligibility criteria
Study locations (1)
University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center
Beachwood, Ohio, 44122