Efficacy of ultrasound-guided second serratus anterior plane block on postoperative quality of recovery and analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study

Despite widespread application of minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), postoperative pain following this procedure is still a constant clinical challenge. Serratus anterior plane (SAP) block is one of the regional analgesic techniques with promising outcomes. However, due to the limited duration of action, optimal analgesia is often not achieved with a single injection. We tested whether in patients who have been subjected to routine SAP block under preoperative anesthesia, the addition of a second SAP block 24 hours after surgery, improves quality of recovery, lowers postoperative opioid consumption, and reduces the prevalence of chronic pain.