Comparison of Intrathecal Morphine versus Ultrasound-Guided Regional Analgaesia Techniques for Post-Caesarean Recovery Quality.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of ultrasound-guided regional analgaesia techniques on postoperative recovery and compare them with those of intratecal morphine (ITM) in obstetric patients undergoing elective caesarean delivery (CD).

Study design: Observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Konya City Hospital, Konya, Turkiye, from January to December 2022.

Methodology: The study involved six groups of 30 patients each, categorised by postoperative analgaesia: ITM, posterior transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB), lateral TAPB, transversalis fascia plane block, posterior quadratus lumborum block, and erector spinae plane block. Recovery was assessed using the Obstetric Quality of Recovery Score-10 (ObsQoR-10) at 24 hours, whereas satisfaction was measured with a Likert scale. Time to the first analgaesia, total opioid consumption, nausea, and the need for antiemetics were compared.

Results: ObsQoR-10, satisfaction, and numerical rating scale scores were consistent across groups (p >0.05). The lateral TAPB group required more opioids and had earlier analgaesic requests (p = 0.009 and p = 0.05, respectively). ITM was more likely to cause nausea and pruritus compared to regional analgaesia techniques (p = 0.062 and p <0.001).

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided regional analgaesia techniques provided similar postoperative recovery and patient satisfaction levels as ITM. Moreover, regional analgaesia techniques, except lateral TAPB, may offer similar alternatives to ITM within multimodal analgaesia strategies for CD.

Key words: Caesarean delivery, Multimodal analgaesia, Patient-reported outcome, Regional analgaesia techniques, Quality of recovery.