Quadratus lumborum catheters for breast reconstruction requiring transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps

J Anesth. 2016 Jun;30(3):506-9. doi: 10.1007/s00540-016-2160-y. Epub 2016 Mar 16.

Abstract

Patients diagnosed with breast cancer may opt to undergo surgical reconstructive flaps at the time of or after mastectomies. These surgeries leave patients with significant postoperative pain and sometimes involve large surgical beds including graft sites from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast. Consequently, multimodal methods of pain management have become highly favored. Quadratus lumborum catheters offer an opioid-sparing technique that can be performed easily and safely. We present a case of a patient who underwent a breast flap reconstruction and had bilateral quadratus lumborum catheters placed for perioperative pain control.

Keywords: Abdominal reconstruction; Multimodal analgesia; Quadratus lumborum block; Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / surgery
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Catheters
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammaplasty / methods*
  • Mastectomy / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocutaneous Flap / transplantation*
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control
  • Rectus Abdominis