Blood Bupivacaine Concentration After Regional Block Applications in Pediatric Patients

Analgesia methods such as systemic analgesics, quadratus lumborum block, and transversus abdominis plane block are used for pain management after lower abdominal surgery. Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) requires the patient to be in the lateral decubitus position, and the drug injection point is deeper. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, on the other hand, can be performed with the patient supine, and the drug injection point is more superficial. However, while TAP block has no effect on visceral pain, QLB is also effective in visceral pain. Furthermore, although the injection point for QLB is deep, systemic absorption of the drug is expected to be lower than with TAP block due to its distance from vascular structures. Consequently, blood local anesthetic concentrations and the risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) are also expected to be lower. Despite the deeper injection, it is expected to provide better analgesia and a lower risk of LAST, making it superior to TAP block. This study aimed to compare the postoperative pain relief effect of quadratus lumborum block and transversus abdominis plane block, routinely performed in the clinic to prevent postoperative pain in pediatric patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery, using the FLACC (Face, Leg Mobility, Activity, Crying, and Consolability) score for blood bupivacaine dose after drug injection. Based on these data, if lower blood drug concentrations are detected in patients undergoing QLB, the investigators aim to implement this technique routinely in clinical practice.