NCT06953635

Quadratus Lumborum Versus Placebo in Open Ventral Hernia Repair

Quadratus Lumborum Blocks for Pain Control Following Open Ventral Hernia Repair: A Double Blinded Randomized Control Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether using a QL block is better than placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) in lowering the amount of opioids you need for pain relief in the first 24 hours and if it improves your recovery following a ventral hernia repair. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire before surgery and again at their 30-day follow up. You will also be asked to complete a pain diary 24 hours after surgery and attend a follow-up visit approximately 30 days after surgery. The following information will be collected from you or your medical record: 1. Pain medications given to you during surgery. 2. Pain medications prescribed to you after surgery, including medication name, dose, units, and frequency. 3. Pain levels during the first 24 hours after surgery. 4. Your total hospital length of stay after surgery. 5. Any complications that you may have experienced after surgery. 6. Demographic information, medical history as well as details about your hernia repair surgery.

Detailed description

Quadratus Lumborum (QL) blocks have provided analgesia for abdominal surgery. These blocks involve ultrasound-guided local anesthetic injection deep into the anterior fascia of the quadratus lumborum into the thoracolumbar fascia, resulting in widespread abdominal and pelvic pain control. QL blocks extend that coverage from T4 to L1 in the paravertebral space. At this local institution, QL blocks have demonstrated the ability to provide complete sensory analgesia for most patients from T9-L1 up to an estimated 17 hours after surgery. Therefore the goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of QL block in this patient population.

Conditions

• Hernia, Ventral
• Pain Management

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Block	The intervention arm will receive bilateral quadratus lumborum blocks in the preoperative holding area prior to surgery. The syringe will contain a total of 60 mL of 0.25% Ropivacaine with 4 mg of Decadron. The anesthesiology pain team provider will administer 30 mL on the left side and 30 mL on the right side of the abdominal wall. The patient will receive one injection site per flank. During the procedure, the patient is placed in the left and then right lateral decubitus position and the ultrasound probe is placed above the iliac crest at the mid axillary line. The pain team provider will move the probe posteriorly to identify the "shamrock sign." Under ultrasound guidance, a needle is inserted in an in- plane approach through the quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle until reaching the middle of the thoracolumbar fascia layer between QL and psoas muscle. After negative aspiration for blood, injection will allow the spread of local anesthetic between the QL and psoas muscle on each side.
PROCEDURE	Placebo	The placebo control group will receive the same quadratus lumborum (QL) block procedure as the intervention group, with the only difference being the injection of 60 mL of saline instead of local anesthetic. The anesthesiology team will administer 30 mL on each side of the abdominal wall, with one injection site per flank. The patient will be positioned in the left and right lateral decubitus positions, and the ultrasound probe will be placed above the iliac crest at the mid-axillary line to identify the "shamrock sign." The needle will be inserted through the QL muscle to the thoracolumbar fascia layer, between the QL and psoas muscle. After negative aspiration for blood, saline will be injected, allowing spread between the QL and psoas muscle on each side.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-01
• Primary completion: 2026-01-28
• Completion: 2026-02-28
• First posted: 2025-05-01
• Last updated: 2025-05-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States