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EP126 Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block for analgesia and early recovery for neonatal abdominal surgery: a case series

rapm · 2025-09-10 · canonical JSON source

7 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Background and Aims Planning and executing appropriate plan of anaesthesia for neonates is a challenging task for every anaesthesia team. Neonates have increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality owing to their different physiology and pharmacodynamics of drugs used for anaesthesia. By convention we provide general anaesthesia with neuraxial block like caudal block for neonatal abdominal surgeries like laparotomy. The quadratus lumborum(QL) block provides longer duration and superior pain relief than other abdominal fascial plane techniques. This series illustrates the possibility of employing ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum blocks for analgesia and early recovery in neonates undergoing abdominal surgeries.Methods 15 neonates greater than 34 weeks gestational age with no gross congenital anomalies undergoing laparotomy were enrolled. Informed consent for the regional technique was obtained from parents or guardians. General anaesthesia was induced with fentanyl, thiopentone, atracurium and maintained with sevoflurane. After securing airway with endotracheal tube, the patients were turned in lateral position and ultrasound guided QL blocks were performed bilaterally. 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% ropivacaine per side were given. The dosages were well below the permissible limit. All patients received 7.5 mg/kg of acetaminophen intra operatively.Results Bilateral quadratus lumborum blocks were performed without complications in all patients. All patients were extubated with well controlled pain and no patients required reintubation within first 24 hours. 4 patients received scheduled IV acetaminophen postoperatively. Fentanyl 1 mg/kg was administered to 2 patients with modified neonatal infant pain score equal to or greater than 4. QL block proved to provide good analgesia both intraoperatively and postoperatively, avoided over use of opioids, postoperative apnea and helped in resuming early feeds.Conclusions Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block provide effective postoperative analgesia and minimize postoperative opioid requirements in neonates for abdominal surgeries. Additional research on large study groups is required to further evaluate the role of QL blocks in abdominal surgeries in neonates.