As part of the occasional series on “Nerve Blocks from the App”, this week we feature the “Quadratus Lumborum (QL) 1 Block” and 3 Tips on How to Perform the Block Successfully

A QL 1 or lateral QL block provides analgesia for the skin over the anterior iliac crest and L1 dermatome of the ipsilateral anterior abdominal wall. 

Here are three tips which will help you to conduct a successful QL 1 Block:

1. Place the transducer in a transverse orientation just above the iliac crest on the midaxillary line.
2. Slide the transducer posteriorly until the posterior aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle is identified, followed by the QL muscle.
3. Insert the needle in-plane, from anterior to posterior, and inject 15-20 mL (0.2-0.3 mL/kg) of local anesthetic deep to the aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle but superficial to the fascia transversalis, medial to the QL muscle. 

To get the “whole picture” view of the process, watch the video below to see how the NYSORA Nerve Block App brings these instructions to life:

For more tips like these and the complete guide to the 60 most frequently used nerve blocks, learn more about the Nerve Blocks App HERE.