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Status unknownNCT04402411Updated Oct 19, 2020

Quadratus Lumborum Block vs Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Bladder Cancer Surgeries

An interventional study of Quadratus lumborum block and Transversus abdominis plane block in Quadratus Lumborum Block, Transversus Abdominis Plane Block and Bladder Cancer, sponsored by National Cancer Institute, Egypt. Status unknown at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-10-19.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute, Egypt · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Oct 2020), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
63
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
20 Years to 80 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can be used to provide effective analgesia during the postoperative period following a range of surgeries.

TAP block administers local anesthetics between the T6 to L1 spinal nerve roots to stop the nerve signal and to alleviate pain for abdominal procedures 4, 5.

The viscera are innervated by the vagal nerve (parasympathetic innervation) and by the splanchnic nerves (sympathetic innervation). The splanchnic nerves carry both visceral efferent and afferent nerve fibers. The sensory (or afferent) part of the splanchnic nerves reach the spinal column at certain spinal segments, It is possible to block central visceral pain conduction with thoracic paravertebral blockade or maybe even with the novel quadratus lumborum (QL) block.

The effect of the QL block is believed to result from a spread of LA from its lumbar deposition cranially into the thoracic paravertebral space (TPVS), since Carney et al found traces of contrast agent in the TPVS following application of this block. Hence, the QL block would seem to be able to alleviate both somatic and visceral pain.10

The aim of this study is to compare between quadratus lumborum block, transversus abdominis plane block regarding perioperative analgesia after bladder cancer surgeries by measuring intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative pain scores and morphine consumption in the first 24 h postoperative.

Read the detailed description

Somatic post-surgical pain is very distressing to patients which leads to important complications. Combined multimodal strategies involving nerve blocks, neuroaxial blocks, opiates, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are necessary for optimal pain control.

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can be used to provide effective analgesia during the postoperative period following a range of surgeries.

TAP block administers local anesthetics between the T6 to L1 spinal nerve roots to stop the nerve signal and to alleviate pain for abdominal procedures.

A number of systematic reviews have assessed TAP block as a postoperative analgesic compared to one or more specific procedures.

Anterior abdominal wall blocks, as transverse abdominal plexus block, have an important role for only somatic intraoperative and postoperative pain control.

The viscera are innervated by the vagal nerve (parasympathetic innervation) and by the splanchnic nerves (sympathetic innervation). The splanchnic nerves carry both visceral efferent and afferent nerve fibers. The sensory (or afferent) part of the splanchnic nerves reach the spinal column at certain spinal segments, It is possible to block central visceral pain conduction with thoracic paravertebral blockade or maybe even with the novel quadratus lumborum (QL) block.

The effect of the QL block is believed to result from a spread of LA from its lumbar deposition cranially into the thoracic paravertebral space (TPVS), since Carney et al found traces of contrast agent in the TPVS following application of this block. Hence, the QL block would seem to be able to alleviate both somatic and visceral pain.10 Quadratus lumborum block was first described by Blanco in 2007. Blanco described a potential space posterior to the abdominal wall muscles and lateral to the quadratus lumborum muscle. It has been used in abdominoplasties, caesarean sections and lower abdominal operations providing complete pain relief in the distribution area from Th6 to L1 dermatomes. It may be seen as a lumbar approach to the Thoracic Paravertebral Space. The block apparently produces distribution of the local anesthetic extending proximally and over both sides of the surface of the QL muscle, in between the anterior and intermediate layers of the thoracolumbar fascia.

Quadratus lumborum muscle inserts on the lower border of the last rib and by four small tendons into the apices of the transverse processes of the upper four lumbar vertebrae.

Running between its fascia and the muscle are the twelfth thoracic (subcostal), ilioinguinal, and iliohypogastric nerves, The block does not rely on the feeling of any pops or fascial clicks because depending of the angle of the needle several pops can be felt without reaching the target zone, which is lateral to the quadratus lumborum muscle. Actually, the block has never been intended to be conducted without the use of US guidance, and the block is thus a purely USG block.

Aim of study Comparison between quadratus lumborum block, transversus abdominis plane block regarding perioperative analgesia after bladder cancer surgeries by measuring intraoperative hemodynamics, postoperative pain scores and morphine consumption in the first 24 h postoperative.

02

Conditions studied

  • Quadratus Lumborum Block
  • Transversus Abdominis Plane Block
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Postoperative Pain
  • Surgery
03

In context

Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

1,616 studies on the registry are indexed under Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; 421 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 63 is close to the median of 60 across 1,163 interventional studies indexed under Urinary Bladder Neoplasms.

Browse Urinary Bladder Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute, Egypt is the lead sponsor of 133 studies on the registry; 29 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 80 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age of the patients between 20 to 80 years.
  • ASA physical status II -III
  • Elective bladder cancer operations.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient refusal
  • Local infection at the site of injection
  • Allergy to study medications
  • Sepsis
  • Anatomic abnormalities
  • Systemic anticoagulation or coagulopathy
  • Inability to comprehend or participate in pain scoring system
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
63 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Control Group

    Patients will receive general anesthesia with intravenous opioid

    Drug: Intravenous opioid

  • Experimental
    Quadratus lumborum

    Patients will receive bilateral quadratus lumborum block

    Procedure: Quadratus lumborum block

  • Experimental
    Transversus abdominis plane

    Patients will receive bilateral transversus abdominis plane block

    Procedure: Transversus abdominis plane block

Interventions

  • ProcedureQuadratus lumborum block

    The patient will be placed in a lateral position with the side to be blocked facing upwards. The ultrasound probe will be properly sterilized and with sterile covers. An 18-20 gauge blunt tipped block needle or a Tuohy needle is advanced under ultrasound guidance on the posterior aspect of the Quadratus Lumborum. The QL muscle is identified with its attachment to the lateral edge of the transverse process of the L4 vertebral body. With the psoas major muscle anteriorly, the erector spinae muscle posteriorly and the QL muscle adherent to the apex of the transverse process, a well recognisable pattern of a shamrock with three leaves can be seen.

    Also known as: Group B

  • ProcedureTransversus abdominis plane block

    The patient will be supine while performing the block and sterilization of the site of the ultrasound and needle entry will be performed. The ultrasound probe is placed in a transverse plane to the lateral abdominal wall in the midaxillary line, between the lower costal margin and iliac crest. The needle is introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles.

    Also known as: Group C

  • DrugIntravenous opioid

    Patients will receive morphine 0.1 mg/kg

    Also known as: Group A

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time to first rescue dose of morphine

    First time at which morphine was given postoperatively (If Vsual analogue scale (VAS) was \>4, 3 mg morphine IV was administered as a rescue analgesia for the first 24 hours)

    Time frame: 24 hours

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total dose of postoperative morphine consumption

    Postoperative analgesia was provided by 1 gm paracetamol IV every 8 hours as a routine analgesia and if VAS was \>4, 3 mg morphine IV was administered as a rescue analgesia for the first 24 hours.

    Time frame: 24 hours

  2. Pain intensity by visual analogue scale (VAS)

    Visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24 hours postoperative. (0: No pain, 1-3: Mild pain, 4-6: Moderate pain, 7-9: Severe pain and 10: The worst imaginable pain) Minimum:0 and Maximum 10 The higher, the worst

    Time frame: 24 hours

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • National Cancer Institute - Egypt
    Cairo, 11796, Egypt
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — I don't want to share

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 19, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04402411
Lead sponsor
National Cancer Institute, Egypt
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 26, 2020
Start date
Jun 1, 2020
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2020
Completion
Oct 5, 2020 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 19, 2020

Study contacts

Ahmed M Mohammed, MSc
Contact
mans.cerano@gmail.com
+20 122 431 8828
Ahmed M Mohammed, MSc
principal investigator · Assistant lecturer of Anesthesia, ICU, and Pain Relief

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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