Anterior quadratus lumborum block reduces post-operative pain effectively

A meta-analysis of 89 articles assessed the effectiveness of the anterior quadratus lumborum (AQL) block in abdominal surgeries. Results revealed that patients receiving the AQL block experienced significantly lower post-operative pain scores and reduced opioid consumption at 12 and 24 hours compared to controls. Furthermore, the AQL block demonstrated non-inferiority to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, with some evidence suggesting its superiority in managing pain post-surgery. Limitations include study design variability.