Comparison of QLB Block and TAP Block in Terms of Pain Management and Patient Satisfaction in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

As the number of obese patients increases, the number of surgeries performed for morbid-obese is also increasing. Pain following bariatric surgery is highly troubling and can lead to increased complication rate, decreased patient satisfaction rate, and prolonging the healing process, increasing the risk of pulmonary complications and the incidence of deep vein thrombosis. Since postoperative recovery is directly related to the severity and duration of pain, it is imperative to reduce postoperative pain as early as possible. Many post-operative methods have been suggested for patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a regional anesthesia technique routinely used to reduce postoperative pain.

Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks are regional anesthesia techniques that are frequently used to reduce postoperative pain and are an important part of the current analgesic regimen for many abdominal surgeries. Researchers are doing these two blocks in our clinic to provide postoperative analgesia. The aim of our study is to compare the effectiveness of TAP block and QLB block in postoperative pain control in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Secondary outcomes evaluated in this study were to assess postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), time to discharge, and patient satisfaction.

Many methods have been suggested to reduce postoperative abdominal wall pain, such as instillation of local anesthetics at the site of entry, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), epidural catheterization, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). It is known that opioid analgesics against acute postoperative pain cause postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) [3]. The mean incidence of PONV reported in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing bariatric surgery ranges from 30% to 50% [4].

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a routinely used regional anesthesia technique to reduce postoperative pain and is an important part of the current analgesic regimen for many abdominal surgeries [5]. A multimodal approach to pain management, with various combinations such as TAP blocks, local anesthetic infiltration and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been suggested as the optimal combination for laparoscopic bariatric surgery [6]. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is one of the effective and routinely applied blocks in The primary aim of our study is to compare the effectiveness of TAP block and QLB block in postoperative pain control in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Secondary outcomes evaluated in this study were to assess postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), time to discharge, and patient satisfaction.

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