Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial

Objective: The current lack of standardised perioperative pain management protocols for open radical cystectomy (ORC) underscores the need for alternative approaches to the longstanding tradition of epidural block. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bilateral single injection quadrat...

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Main Authors: Erik Veskimäe, Andrus Korgvee, Heini Huhtala, Heikki Koskinen, Maija-Liisa Kalliomaki, Teuvo Tammela, Eija Junttila
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical journals sweden AB 2025-03-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Urology
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Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/SJU/article/view/43105
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author Erik Veskimäe
Andrus Korgvee
Heini Huhtala
Heikki Koskinen
Maija-Liisa Kalliomaki
Teuvo Tammela
Eija Junttila
author_facet Erik Veskimäe
Andrus Korgvee
Heini Huhtala
Heikki Koskinen
Maija-Liisa Kalliomaki
Teuvo Tammela
Eija Junttila
author_sort Erik Veskimäe
collection DOAJ
description Objective: The current lack of standardised perioperative pain management protocols for open radical cystectomy (ORC) underscores the need for alternative approaches to the longstanding tradition of epidural block. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bilateral single injection quadratum lumborum block (QLB) on patients’ recovery and complication rates compared with epidural analgesia after ORC in a single-centre, randomised, parallel-group trial including adult patients with bladder cancer. Material and methods: Consecutive ORC patients were randomly allocated into QLB and the epidural group. The primary endpoint of this study was related to opioid consumption, and the results have been published earlier. This report focuses on secondary outcomes. Results: This study included a total of 41 patients, with 20 patients in the QLB group and 21 patients in the epidural group. Finally, 39 patients were included in the analysis.  There was a trend for more frequent need for postoperative norepinephrine and fluid support in the epidural group but without statistical significance. Postoperative complication rate was similar. Two patients in the epidural group compared to none in the QLB group were rehospitalised within 30 and 90 days. Mortality rate within 90 days was higher in the epidural group (4 vs. 0 patients, P = 0.064). Conclusions: In this trial, there were no significant differences in surgical and oncological outcomes after ORC when QLB is compared with epidural block for postoperative analgesia.  Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03328988
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spelling doaj-art-eae93783c3f14155af86c2820ccbbfe72025-08-20T03:13:04ZengMedical journals sweden ABScandinavian Journal of Urology2168-18132025-03-016010.2340/sju.v60.43105Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trialErik Veskimäe0Andrus Korgvee1Heini Huhtala2Heikki Koskinen3Maija-Liisa Kalliomaki4Teuvo Tammela5Eija Junttila6Department of Urology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Department of Anaesthesia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Department of Anaesthesia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Department of Anaesthesia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandDepartment of Urology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, FinlandFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Department of Anaesthesia, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland Objective: The current lack of standardised perioperative pain management protocols for open radical cystectomy (ORC) underscores the need for alternative approaches to the longstanding tradition of epidural block. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bilateral single injection quadratum lumborum block (QLB) on patients’ recovery and complication rates compared with epidural analgesia after ORC in a single-centre, randomised, parallel-group trial including adult patients with bladder cancer. Material and methods: Consecutive ORC patients were randomly allocated into QLB and the epidural group. The primary endpoint of this study was related to opioid consumption, and the results have been published earlier. This report focuses on secondary outcomes. Results: This study included a total of 41 patients, with 20 patients in the QLB group and 21 patients in the epidural group. Finally, 39 patients were included in the analysis.  There was a trend for more frequent need for postoperative norepinephrine and fluid support in the epidural group but without statistical significance. Postoperative complication rate was similar. Two patients in the epidural group compared to none in the QLB group were rehospitalised within 30 and 90 days. Mortality rate within 90 days was higher in the epidural group (4 vs. 0 patients, P = 0.064). Conclusions: In this trial, there were no significant differences in surgical and oncological outcomes after ORC when QLB is compared with epidural block for postoperative analgesia.  Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03328988 https://medicaljournalssweden.se/SJU/article/view/43105Bladder cancerradical cystectomyepidural analgesiaquadratum lumborum block
spellingShingle Erik Veskimäe
Andrus Korgvee
Heini Huhtala
Heikki Koskinen
Maija-Liisa Kalliomaki
Teuvo Tammela
Eija Junttila
Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
Scandinavian Journal of Urology
Bladder cancer
radical cystectomy
epidural analgesia
quadratum lumborum block
title Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
title_full Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
title_fullStr Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
title_short Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
title_sort quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial
topic Bladder cancer
radical cystectomy
epidural analgesia
quadratum lumborum block
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/SJU/article/view/43105
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