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Rhomboid Intercostal and Subserratus Plane Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block in Management of Postoperative Pain After Open Nephrectomy

Rhomboid Intercostal and Subserratus Plane Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block in Management of Postoperative Pain After Open Nephrectomy

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06983249
Acronym
Nephrectomy
Enrollment
50
Registered
2025-05-21
Start date
2025-07-01
Completion date
2026-09-01
Last updated
2025-09-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Open Nephrectomy Surgery

Keywords

Rhomboid intercostal subserratus

Brief summary

Rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) and Rhomboid intercostal block with sub-serratus plane block (RISS) are the two types of plane blocks used for postoperative analgesia after abdominal surgeries. For achieving proper postoperative analgesia, multimodal regimens have been described for patients undergoing abdominal procedures like cholecystectomy. These multimodal regimens could include opioid medications, non-opioid analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen and ketorolac), and regional blocks. These modalities could be used alone or in combination. This prospective randomised controlled trial was performed to analyse the postoperative analgesic effects of ultrasound guided Quadratus lumborum block and RISS block in managing post operative pain in patients undergoing open nephrectomy.

Detailed description

Open nephrectomy is an important surgery in treatment of patients with renal cancer, ultrasound guidance is rapidly becoming the gold standard for regional anesthesia. There is an evidence matched with improving technology to show that the use of ultrasound has significant benefits over conventional techniques, such as nerve stimulation and loss of resistance. The improved safety and efficacy that ultrasound brings to regional anesthesia helped promote its use and realize the benefits that regional anesthesia has over general anesthesia, such as decreased morbidity and mortality, superior post-operative analgesia, cost-effectiveness, decreased postoperative complications and an improved postoperative course . The Rhomboid intercostal and subserratus plane block (RISS) is a relatively newer block technique described by Elsharkawy et al. The RISS provides analgesia for the regions supplied by T3 - T6 thoracic nerves, analgesia of the RISS block may be due to two different mechanisms. First, the block mainly affects the thoracic intercostal dorsal rami emerging under the erector spinae muscle at the level of T3-T9, where it is attached to the transverse spinal processes. Second, the injected local anesthetic may extend to the paravertebral space under the erector spinae muscle Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a new abdominal truncal block for controlling somatic pain in both the upper and lower abdomen. Although the concept of the block is similar to that of lateral transverses-abdominis plane block (TAPB), the extent of the effect has been suggested to be greater because the point of injection is more dorsal. Local anesthetics are administered into the space between the quadratus lumborum muscle and the medial layer of the thoracolumbar fascia to achieve QLB, which can spread to the paravertebral space .

Interventions

PROCEDURERhomboid intercostal and Sub-serratus nerve block in nephrectomy

That block was performed when the patient was in the lateral position. A high frequency linear ultrasound transducer was placed longitudinally on the patient's back, just 2 cm medial to the medial scapular border. Then, the probe was slightly rotated to obtain an oblique parasagittal plane. The following landmarks were identified: the trapezius muscle, rhomboid major muscle, intercostal muscles, pleura, and lungs (from superficial to deep in order of appearance). Under ultrasound guidance, a 22 mm gauge spinal needle was directed to the plane by using high frequency ultrasound guidence (Sono SiteTM, Inc., Bothell, WA 98021, USA) between the rhomboid major and the underlying intercostal muscles and 15 ml bupivacaine (0.25%) was delivered into that plane (after repeated negative aspiration of blood), and its spread was manifested by the hydrodissection and widening of the plane visualized by ultrasound

PROCEDUREQuadratus lumborum nerve block in nephrectomy

Ultrasound guided posterior quadrates lumborum block was done in lateral decubitus position and linear probe according to the depth was placed in the midaxillary line in the transverse plane immediately above the iliac crest and then it was slided dorsally until the Shamrock sign was clearly identified. In Shamrock sign The quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle is seen as a superior leaf of the Shamrock at the apex of the transverse process (TP) of L4

Sponsors

Ain Shams University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

The eligible patients will be enrolled in this double blinded study and randomly allocated into one of two parrallel equal groups (25 patients in each group) according to sample size by computer generated random number litst. The allocation will be concealed, the data will blind to the study group. Two persons should be blinded; the patient and the investigator who will monitor the patients

Intervention model description

The eligible patients will be enrolled in this double blinded study and randomly allocated into one of two parrallel equal groups (25 patients in each group) according to sample size by computer generated random number list. The allocation will be concealed, the data will blind to the study group. Two persons should be blinded; the patient and the investigator who will monitor the patients. Groups: Patients will be assigned randomly into two equal groups: Group (A): patients will receive RISS block under ultrasound guide 30 ml bupivacaine 0.25%. Group B Quadratus lumborum block: patients will Receive ultra sound guided Quadratus Lumborum block using 20 ml Bupivacaine 0.25% on operated side.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients undergoing open nephrectomy. * ASA physical status II, III * Sex (males and females) * Age 40-70 years

Exclusion criteria

Patient refusal or with difficulties in comprehending visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores * Any contraindications for regional anesthesia. (eg: coagulopathy, use of anticoagulants or antiplatelets...) * Hypersensitivity to local anesthetics. * Infection near site of injection.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Primary outcomeOne yearPrimary outcome: Time of first post operative analgesic demand

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Secondary outcomeOne year-Total analgesic requirement with a rescue analgesic (IV fentanyl 0.5 mic\\kg) was given if the patient had a VAS of 4 or more over 0-24, 24-48, and 48-72 h after surgery.

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026