Post-thoracotomy pain management remains challenging, with thoracic epidurals traditionally considered the gold standard. Erector spinae plane blocks have emerged as a potential alternative, offering simplicity and a favorable safety profile. This case series presents three patients undergoing a hybrid Ivor Lewis esophagectomy who received erector spinae plane blocks for postoperative analgesia. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane catheters were inserted pre-anesthesia, with infusions managed postoperatively based on individual pain scores. All patients achieved effective pain control, enabling early mobilization. This suggests erector spinae plane blocks as a viable option for post-thoracotomy pain management.
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Amjad et al. (2024) studied this question.
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