title: A radiologic and anatomic assessment of injectate spread following transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in cadavers.
abstract: We performed bilateral transmuscular quadratus lumborum blocks in six cadavers using iodinated contrast and methylene blue. Computed tomography imaging was performed in four cadavers and anatomical dissection was completed in five. This demonstrated spread to the lumbar paravertebral space in 63% of specimens, laterally to the transversus abdominis muscle in 50% and caudally to the anterior superior iliac spine in 63% of specimens. There was no radiographic evidence of spread to the thoracic paravertebral space. Anatomical dissection revealed dye staining of the upper branches of the lumbar plexus and the psoas major muscle in 70% of specimens. Further clinical studies are required to confirm if the quadratus lumborum block might be a suitable alternative to lumbar plexus block.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Adhikary
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Boghdadly
authors.affiliation: Department of Science Education, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nasralah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002102:Cadaver; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004210:Dissection; D006801:Humans; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: abdominal wall blocks; anatomy; quadratus lumborum; regional anaesthesia; ultrasound-guided technique