Trial reportActa anaesthesiologica Scandinavica2023
Efficacy of a TAP block versus an anterior QLB for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: A randomised controlled trial.
Trial report in Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transversus abdominis plane block vs quadratus lumborum block for postoperative analgesia in inguinal hernia repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2023Pooled it
- Transversus abdominis plane blocks in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a review.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2023Pooled it
- Trial
- Ultrasound-guided transversalis fascia plane block versus lateral quadratus lumborum plane block for analgesia after inguinal herniotomy in children: a randomized controlled non-inferiority study.BMC anesthesiology · 2023Trial
- Efficacy of a TAP block versus an anterior QLB for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: A randomised controlled trial.Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica · 2023Trial
- [Peripheral regional anesthesia and analgesia: "the magnificent seven" for training].Die Anaesthesiologie · 2026Review
- Transmuscular quadratus lumborum versus transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in unilateral inguinal hernia repair: A randomised controlled non-inferiority study.Indian journal of anaesthesia · 2026Article
- Laparoscopic transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair in a second level hospital setting: a novel anesthesiologic approach to reduce postoperative pain.Langenbeck's archives of surgery · 2025Article
- Article
- New Kid on the Block: A Systematic Review of the Quadratus Lumborum Block in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBoth the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and the anterior quadratus lumborum block (QLB) have been shown effective in reducing postoperative pain after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Our hypothesis was that there is no difference in analgesic effect between the two blocks for this procedure.
methodsIn this prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled study, 60 adult patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair were equally randomly assigned to either a preoperative TAP block or an anterior QLB. The primary outcome was oral morphine equivalent (OME) consumption at 4 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were OME consumption at 24, 48 h and 7 days, pain scores at rest and when coughing, nausea, and level of sedation measured at 1, 2, 3, 24, and 48 h and 7 days postoperatively.
resultsFifty-three patients completed the study. There was no significant difference in OME consumption at 4 h postoperatively, TAP group (10.3 ± 7.85 mg) (mean ± SD) versus the anterior QLB group (10.9 ± 10.85 mg) (p = .713). The pain scores were similar at rest and when coughing during the 7 day observation period, as were the level of sedation and incidence of nausea. There were no cases of serious side-effects or muscle weakness of the thigh on the same side as the block.
conclusionThere is no difference in OME consumption, pain, nausea or sedation between the TAP and the anterior QLB. Thus, the choice between the two blocks in a clinical setting of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair should be based on other aspects, such as skills, practicalities, and potential risks.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.