Clinical trial · Interventional
QLB and Radical Cystectomy, Postoperative Pain
Comparing Two Different Analgesic Block Methods for Postoperative Pain and Recovery After Surgery -Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB): the Effect on Peri- and Postoperative Pain and Recovery After Radical Cystectomy
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
There are ca 1000 new cases of bladder cancer in Finland/year. The curative therapy for high risk bladder cancer is radical cystectomy. The golden standard is still an open surgery despite development of laparoscopic techniques. Epidural analgesia is considered as most effective for the treatment of postoperative pain. However, there is a need for other effective options, because epidural analgesia has some contraindications and risks for serious complications. Recently quadratus lumborum block has gained popularity in the treatment of postoperative pain after various surgeries in the area from hip to mamilla. It is more beneficial than other peripheral blocks, since it covers also the visceral nerves. Contrary to the need of epidural catether a single shot QLB has reported to last up to 48 hours. Inadequately treated acute postoperative pain is considered as one of the main risk factors for persistent postoperative pain. 44 patients aging 18-85 will be recruited based on a power calculation. The primary outcome measure is the acute postoperative need for rescue analgesics. Secondary outcomes are acute pain (NRS scale), nausea, vomiting, mobilisation and longterm outcomes such as quality of life and persistent pain.
Conditions
Conditions (3)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic Pain Post-Proceduraal | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Nausea and Vomiting, Postoperative | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Postoperative Pain | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLB | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Quadratus lumborum block
- description
- Single shot bilateral QLB, ropivacaine 75 mg (20 mL) per side, placed under ultrasound control, at the end of surgery. 22 patients will be allocated in this group.
- interventionNames
- Procedure: QLB
- type
- NO_INTERVENTION
- label
- Epidural
- description
- Epidural catheter (placed before anesthesia induction), ropivacaine 75 mg in 50 mL isotonic saline (1,5 mg/mL), induction bolus after surgery 1 mL/10 kg ideal weight and there on continuous infusion 2-8 mL/h according to analgesic need. 22 patients will be allocated in this group. This is the current standard for postoperative pain relief in cystectomy patients in our hospital
Primary outcomes (1)
- measure
- opiate consumption
- timeFrame
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 85 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * patients with bladder cancer coming to the open radical cystectomy. Exclusion Criteria: * age under 18y or over 85y, * diabetes type 1 with complications, * no co-operation or inadequate finnish language, * persistent pain for other reason.
References
Publications (3)
- BACKGROUND1. Finnish Cancer Registry. Cancer in Finland 2007-2011. Cancer Society of Finland Publication, Helsinki. 2. Witjes AJ, Lebret T, Comperat EM et al. Eur Urol. 2016 Jun 30 . 3. Azhar RA, Bochner B, Catto J et al. Eur Urol. 2016; 70: 176-187. 4. Voldby AW, Brandstrup B. Journal of Intensive Care 2016; 4:27. 5. Rawal N. Eur J Anae sthesiol 2016; 33:160 - 171 6. Kehlet H, Jensen TS, Woolf CJ . Lancet. 2006 May 13;367(9522):1618- 25 7. Gordon DB, de Leon-Casasola OA, Wu CL, ET AL. The Journal of Pain 2016; 17(2): 158-166. 8. Chou R, Gordon DB, de Leon-Casasola OA, ET AL. The Journal of Pain 2016;17(2):131-157 9. Gustavsson A., Bjorkman J., Ljungcrantz C., ET AL. Eur J Pain 2012:16 ; 289 - 299 10. Breivik H, Bang U, Jalonen J, ET AL Acta Anesthesiol Scand 20 10; 54: 16- 41. 11. Davies RG, Myles PS, Graham JM Br J Anaesth. 2006 Apr;96(4):418-26. 13. 12. Murouchi T, Iwasaki S, Yamakage M. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016;41:146 - 150. 13. Carney J, Finnerty O, Rauf J, ET AL. Anaesthesia. 2011;66:1023 - 30. 14. Blanco R, Ansari T, Riad W, Shetty N. Reg Anest Pain Med: Nov/Dec 2016 - vol 41 - p 757- 767. 15. Kenneth F Schulz, , Douglas G Altman, David Moher, BMJ 2010;340:c332 16. http://www.consort-statement.org
- DERIVEDVeskimae E, Korgvee A, Huhtala H, Koskinen H, Kalliomaki ML, Tammela T, Junttila E. Quadratus lumborum block is feasible alternative to epidural block for postoperative analgesia after open radical cystectomy: surgical and oncological outcomes of a randomised clinical trial. Scand J Urol. 2025 Mar 13;60:59-65. doi: 10.2340/sju.v60.43105. PMID 40079670
- DERIVEDKorgvee A, Veskimae E, Huhtala H, Koskinen H, Tammela T, Junttila E, Kalliomaki ML. Posterior quadratus lumborum block versus epidural analgesia for postoperative pain management after open radical cystectomy: A randomized clinical trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2023 Mar;67(3):347-355. doi: 10.1111/aas.14188. Epub 2023 Jan 3. PMID 36547262