REVISTA DA ASSOCIACAO MEDICA BRASILEIRA, cilt.69, sa.12, ss.1-6, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
OBJECTIVE: This prospective randomized study was conducted at Ataturk University Medical Faculty Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and
Reanimation, from June 2022 to May 2023. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block,
quadratus lumborum block, and intrathecal morphine to decrease postoperative pain after cesarean section.
METHODS: Sixty-term pregnant women who were scheduled for elective cesarean sections with spinal anesthesia were included. Patients were
randomly divided into three groups (n=20 for each group): Group 1: Patients were administered intrathecal morphine during spinal anesthesia; Group
2: Patients performed bilateral erector spinae plane block postoperatively; and Group 3: Patients performed bilateral quadratus lumborum block
postoperatively. In the postpartum care unit, patients received intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia. The Patient-Controlled Analgesia devices
were set to administer an intravenous bolus of 25 μg fentanyl, with a lockout interval of 10 min. Opioid consumption and maximum pain score in the
24 postoperative hours were recorded.
RESULTS: Patients in Group 1 had a longer time to first analgesic requirement compared to Group 2 (p=0.017). Opioid consumption and resting and
moving visual analog score scores in the first 24 h postoperatively were similar between groups.
CONCLUSION: All three methods, including intrathecal morphine, erector spinae plane block, and quadratus lumborum block, are efficacious and
comparable in providing postoperative analgesia after cesarean under spinal anesthesia.