Quadratus Lumborum Block for Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

No regional blockade techniques are considered standard of care for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). Quadratus lumborum block (QLB), a novel fascial plane block, has emerged as a potential option; however, its analgesic efficacy in TLH remains unclear.

We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including Medline PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science. No filters or language restrictions were imposed.

The Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes framework in this review was as follows: (1) adult patients undergoing TLH; (2) QLB as the intervention; (3) comparison with no block or placebo; (4) primary outcome: 24-hour postoperative intravenous morphine-equivalent consumption; secondary outcomes: postoperative pain at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV); (5) randomized controlled trials. Meta-analyses, including subgroup and sensitivity analyses, were conducted using a random-effects model.

This analysis included 8 trials with 540 patients. QLB significantly reduced postoperative 24-hour intravenous morphine-equivalent consumption following TLH (mean difference: -4.61 mg; 95% confidence interval: -7.13 to -2.09; p <.001; I² = 57%), though the reduction was below the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 10 mg. The static pain scores at 2, 6, and 12 hours, as well as dynamic pain scores at 2, 6, and 24 hours postoperatively, were significantly lower in the QLB group than in the control group. However, only the 2-hour postoperative dynamic pain score (mean difference = 1.19) exceeded the MCID of 1. No statistically significant differences were observed in the incidence of PONV.

QLB statistically reduced postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores at certain time points after TLH, but only the 2-hour dynamic pain score exceeded the MCID with no improvement in PONV, suggesting limited clinical benefit of QLB in TLH.