Comparison of intrathecal fentanyl as an adjunct in spinal anaesthesia to ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block as an effective postoperative analgesia for Caesarean section surgery.

Background: Postoperative pain in patients, if dealt with inadequately, has been a significant cause of morbidity. The present study compared the postoperative analgesic efficacy of intrathecal fentanyl and ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block following Caesarean surgery.

Methods: A prospective randomised controlled study was planned for parturients who underwent Caesarean surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Patients received bupivacaine (10mg) and 25µg of intrathecal fentanyl in the spinal anaesthesia (group intrathecal fentanyl, n = 30) or 20mL of 0.375% ropivacaine bilateral quadratus lumborum block (group quadratus lumborum; n = 30) after surgery. The visual analogue scale score, quality of recovery-15 score and incidence of ill effects were recorded.

Results: The postoperative haemodynamic parameters were comparable between the two groups. The visual analogue scale score at different time intervals decreased after the quadratus lumborum block (p < 0.05). The mean global quality of recovery score was better in the quadratus lumborum group (p < 0.001). In the quadratus lumborum group, the mean time to first ambulation was lower than that in the intrathecal fentanyl group (p < 0.05). The requirement for first-rescue analgesia was earlier in the intrathecal fentanyl group (4.67 ± 0.72) than in the quadratus lumborum group (4.92 ± 0.88).

Conclusion: Intrathecal fentanyl and quadratus lumborum block had effective postoperative analgesic effects on Caesarean surgery patients. However, the quadratus lumborum block group exhibited better analgesia and early ambulation than the intrathecal fentanyl group, with an improved quality of recovery.