Background An adequate anesthesia technique generates appropriate postoperative analgesic properties and decreases the patient’s stress response. This will lead to decreased morbidity and mortality associated with immunology disturbances, such as infection, prolonged wound healing, and sepsis. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, as the markers of the stress response, between continuous epidural and quadratus lumborum (QL) block as postoperative analgesia techniques among living kidney donors. Methods Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into two equal groups: continuous epidural and QL block. A group received bilateral QL block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% and the other received 6 mL/hour of bupivacaine 0.25% continuously via an epidural catheter. Prior to extubation, the QL block group received bilateral QL block with the same dose and the continuous epidural group was administered with 6 mL/hour of bupivacaine 0.125%. Blood samples were drawn to compare IL-6 and CRP concentrations after intubation (preoperatively), directly after surgery, 24 hours postoperatively, and 48 hours postoperatively. Postoperative pain was measured with the numerical rating scale (NRS). Morphine requirement and duration of catheter usage were also measured postoperatively. Side effects within 24 hours postoperatively were noted. Data were analyzed with independent t -test or Mann-Whitney test. Results No difference was observed between the groups in the plasma concentration of IL-6 either after surgery or 24 hours postoperatively (P = 0.785 and P = 0.361, respectively) although the mean IL-6 concentration 24 hours postoperatively was lower in the QL block group than in the continuous epidural group. CRP concentration was not significantly different between the groups either after surgery or 48 hours postoperatively (P = 0.805 and P = 0.636, respectively). Conclusions There was no significant difference in IL-6 and CRP concentrations between continuous epidural and QL block among living kidney donors. Both continuous epidural and QL block techniques showed comparable postoperative analgesic properties among living kidney donors undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomy.

BackgroundPostoperative pain management is important for the early recovery of the living donor patient. Patient-controlled opioid analgesia, epidural analgesia, or a combination of both is the preferred pain management after abdominal surgery although these approaches have serious side effects. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been increasingly used for postoperative pain management and the addition of dexamethasone to local anesthetic can prolong the duration of action.ObjectivesThis study evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided three-quadrant TAP block analgesia with the addition of dexamethasone, compared to the continuous epidural analgesia in postoperative cumulative opioid consumption and pain scale in the first 24 hours following transperitoneal laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy.MethodsA prospective randomized control study was conducted on 50 patients with ASA I-II, 18 - 65 years old, BMI 18 - 30, and undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly assigned into either a three-quadrant TAP block group (n = 25) with 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine plus dexamethasone 8 mg or a continuous epidural group (n = 25) using 0.125% bupivacaine postoperatively. The morphine consumption and the numerical rating scale (NRS) at rest and movement were evaluated at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The postoperative first-time mobilization and duration of urinary catheter usage were recorded.ResultsPatients demographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. During 24 hours after the surgery, cumulative morphine consumption (P = 0.232), the NRS at rest and movement (P > 0.05), and the first-time mobilization (P = 0.075) were not significantly different between the groups, except that the NRS during movement at 12 hours was significantly lower in the TAP block group (P = 0.004). The duration of urinary catheterization was significantly longer as a side effect in the continuous epidural group (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe three-quadrant TAP block with the addition of dexamethasone showed comparable analgesic effects as the continuous epidural analgesia in cumulative opioid consumption and pain scale in the first 24 hours following transperitoneal laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Background and objectives The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and classical thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block can reduce postoperative pain in lumbar surgery. In this study, we compared the efficacy of ESPB and classical TLIP block in providing perioperative analgesia in patients undergoing lumbar posterior decompression and stabilization by comparing postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and IL-6 and IL-10 serum concentrations between ESPB and classical TLIP block. Method This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial in tertiary referral hospitals. Forty patients were randomized into two equal groups, each receiving either ESPB or classical TLIP block. The primary outcome was the difference in IL-6 and IL-10 serum concentrations at baseline and 6 h after lumbar posterior decompression and stabilization. The secondary outcome was total opioid consumption and pain score 24 h post-operatively. Result There were no significant differences between the ESPB and classical TLIP block groups in pain score, IL-6 and IL-10 concentration change, and total opioid consumption post-operatively. There was a significant difference in the time until the first dose of morphine was needed between the ESPB and classical TLIP block groups (300 min vs. 547.5 min; p = 0.002). Conclusion ESPB and classical TLIP block performance during lumbar surgery have comparable pain scores, IL-6 and IL-10 concentration differences pre- and post-operation, and total opioid consumption post-operatively. However, classical TLIP block provides a prolonged duration of analgesia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04951024.