Quadratus lumborum block versus transversus abdominis plane block for post Caesarean analgesia: A randomized prospective controlled study

Effective postoperative analgesia after lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) is very important for early ambulation and early breast feeding and has a role to play in decreasing postpartum depression. Quadratus lumborum (QL) block, a fascial plane block, is gaining popularity for pain management in lower abdominal surgeries. The aim of the present study was to compare the ultrasound-guided (USG) transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and QL block in patients undergoing LSCS under spinal anaesthesia. Double-blinded, randomized, controlled, single-centre study done between Aug 2019 and Oct 2019, randomised 80 patients scheduled for LSCS into two groups, QL (N = 40) and TAP (N = 40), receiving USG TAP or QL block 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with 4 mg dexamethasone bilaterally, postoperatively. SSPS 20 was used for the statistical analysis Patients were evaluated for 24-h using visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain scores, time to rescue analgesia and the analgesic dose requirement at regular time intervals. Fifteen percent patients in QL block and 75% in TAP block required rescue analgesia (P