Ultrasound-guided regional blockade for lipoma excision: a new approach to an old technique

Local anesthesia for lipoma excision can be feasible with anesthetic injection in the fascial plane between the lipoma and the surrounding soft tissues under real-time ultrasonography [ultrasound- guided lipoma plane (ULP) block]. The advantage of targeting a single anesthetic injection plane under ultrasound guidance may allow for technically easier block placement and long-term analgesic effects.

Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive ULP block, group A (n = 24) or traditional block, group B (n = 24). Primary outcome measure was the number of needle passes required to perform the blockade. The level of procedure pain and the time to first request of analgesia were assessed.

Median (interquartile range) needle passes required to complete the blockade was significantly less in the group A 1(1, 1) in comparison with the group B 3 (2.5, 3); P = 0.0001. Group A required fewer needle redirections 1.5 (1, 2) than group B 2 (2, 2.5); P = 0.001. Group A showed significantly less procedure-related pain 2 (2, 3) when compared with group B 4 (3, 4); P = 0.0001. The time to first rescue analgesic was significantly longer in group A (21.3 ± 4.7 h) in comparison with group B (4.4 ± 1.2 h); P = 0.001.

Ultrasound-guided lipoma plane blockade reduces the number of needle passes required to complete the block and provides less procedure pain and longer pain relief compared with the traditional block in patients undergoing lipoma excision.