Analgesic effect of different regional block techniques guided by ultrasound in older adult patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery

Houfu YAN; Jin DU; Jianliang SUN

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block versus ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block in older adult patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery.

Methods:

A total of 150 older adult patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair surgery at the Marine Police Corps Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force from April 2019 to May 2022 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a control group ( n = 75) and a study group ( n = 75) using a random number table method. All patients underwent elective laparoscopic tension-free inguinal hernia repair surgery. Patients in the control group received ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block after inguinal hernia repair surgery, while those in the study group received ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block. The changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and Ramsay score within 48 hours after surgery were compared between the two groups. Inflammatory factors and stress factors including serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, norepinephrine, and cortisol, were measured at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. The use of analgesics, drug-related adverse reactions, and incidence of nerve block-related complications within 48 hours after surgery were also compared between the two groups.

Results:

There was no significant difference in Ramsay score between the two groups at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score between the two groups at 4 and 8 hours after surgery (both P > 0.05). At 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery, the VAS score in the study group was (1.36 ± 0.57) points, (2.05 ± 0.56) points, and (1.79 ± 0.55) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than (1.92 ± 0.59) points, (2.68 ± 0.62) points, and (2.36 ± 0.59) points in the control group ( t = 6.65, 7.31, 5.86, all P < 0.001). At 24 and 48 hours after surgery, serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, norepinephrine, and cortisol levels in the study group [24 hours (63.89 ± 4.65) ng/L, (156.59 ± 8.62) ng/L, (97.02 ± 6.95) g/L, (36.95 ± 3.26) g/L; 48 hours (49.66 ± 3.74) ng/L, (131.45 ± 7.73) ng/L, (74.63 ± 5.91) g/L, (30.41 ± 2.96) g/L] were significantly lower than those in the control group [24 hours (76.42 ± 5.17) ng/L, (189.32 ± 10.41) ng/L, (105.53 ± 7.83) g/L, (45.16 ± 3.74) g/L; 48 hours (58.15 ± 3.94) ng/L, (162.74 ± 8.49) ng/L, (89.51 ± 6.37) g/L, (36.92 ± 3.31) g/L, t = 10.49-26.38, all P < 0.001]. The proportion of patients who received analgesics within 48 hours after surgery in the study group was 8.00% (6/75), which was significantly lower than 25.33% (19/75) in the control group ( χ2 = 8.11, P = 0.004). The overall incidence of drug-related adverse reactions within 48 hours after surgery in the study group [6.67% (3/75)] was significantly lower than that in the control group [11% (11/75), χ2 = 4.61, P = 0.032].

Conclusion:

Compared with ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block, ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block better helps alleviate postoperative pain in older adult patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair surgery, inhibits inflammation and stress reactions, reduces the dosage of analgesic drugs, and decreases the incidence of adverse drug reactions.