Comparison of the Effectiveness of Intramuscular and Transmucular Quadratus Lumborum Blocks Quality in Postoperative Pain

Acute pain is reported in approximately 80% of patients undergoing postoperative care for various types of surgical procedures in the United States. Another study reported patient postoperative pain intensity with 75% with severe pain in the first 1 to 2 postoperative days and 38% reporting moderate to severe pain at 14 postoperative days. Several modalities have been used as the standard for the management of pain postoperative C-sections.

One of the postoperative analgesic modalities for SC is quadratus lumborum block (QLB). This technique has advantages in relieving postoperative pain after C-section because it is considered to be able to relieve visceral pain as well as somatic pain. The transmuscular QLB (QLBT) approach is one of the most frequently used. This technique was found to be effective with regard to the distribution of analgesics to the paravertebral spaces which is the hallmark of QLB. However, this technique was found to be difficult to perform. Difficulties were reported related to the position of the procedure i.e. lateral or sitting position.