Anterior quadratus lumborum block provided superior pain control and reduced opioid consumption in kidney transplantation: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The research aimed to assess the effectiveness of inside-out anterior quadratus lumborum (QL3) block and local wound infiltration in managing postoperative pain and total morphine dosage following kidney transplantation.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind study; 46 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing kidney transplantation were randomly allocated into 2 groups: a QL group (n = 23) receiving 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine using the ultrasound-assisted inside-out technique before wound closure, while the local wound infiltration (LA) group (n = 23) receiving the same dose around the surgical wound and drain at the time of skin closure.