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Comparisons in analgesic effects between ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and surgical intercostal nerve block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Chun-Sung Sung, Tzu-Jung Wei, Jung-Jyh Hung, Fu-Wei Su, Shih-I Ho, Mong-Wei Lin, Kuang-Cheng Chan, Chun-Yu Wu

Journal of clinical anesthesia, 2024

20 citations

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of anesthesiologist-administrated erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and surgeon-administrated intercostal nerve block (ICNB) following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled, double-blinded study.

SETTING

Operating room, postoperative recovery room and ward in two centers.

PATIENTS

One hundred patients, ASA I-III and scheduled for elective VATS.

INTERVENTIONS

The anesthesiologist-administrated ESPB under ultrasound guidance or surgeon-administrated ICNB under video-assisted thoracoscopy was randomly provided during VATS. Regular oral non-opioid analgesic combined with intravenous rescue morphine were prescribed for multimodal analgesia after surgery.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcomes were the pain score and morphine consumption during 48 h after surgery. Postoperative pain intensity were assessed using the 10-cm visual analogue scale at 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery. Morphine consumption at these time points was compared between the two study groups. Furthermore, oral weak opioid rescue analgesic was also provided at 24 h after surgery. Postoperative quality of recovery at 24 h was also assessed using the QoR-15 questionnaire, along with duration of chest tube drainage and hospital stay were compared as secondary outcomes.

MAIN RESULTS

Patients in the two study groups had comparable baseline characteristics, and surgical types were also similar. Postoperative VAS changes…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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