• Alessandra Lauretta, Vedran Frkovic, and Andrea Saporito.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2025 Feb 12.

Purpose Of ReviewThis review aims to synthesize the current literature on the use of regional blocks to enhance and optimize postoperative recovery after cesarean delivery, highlighting key strategies, challenges, and emerging trends.Recent FindingsRecent developments in postoperative analgesia for cesarean delivery point toward more personalized treatment approaches. This involves identifying patients at high risk for severe postoperative pain and offering them tailored multimodal analgesic regimens.SummaryManaging pain after cesarean delivery continues to pose a significant challenge. The overall prevalence of acute postoperative pain remains high (58%) and, even when strict adherence to established guidelines is ensured, approximately 25% of patients report inadequate pain control. Within a multimodal analgesic framework, when neuraxial morphine - still considered the gold standard - is not an option, the use of peripheral nerve and fascial plane blocks has demonstrated clear benefits. Recent literature suggests that quadratus lumborum block may serve as a promising alternative to intrathecal morphine for women who cannot tolerate opioids. Additionally, incorporating certain regional techniques alongside neuraxial morphine may further improve postoperative analgesia, especially for patients at high risk of severe postoperative pain and those who have contraindications to other analgesic modalities.Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

29 keywords...

hide…