Reducing opioid exposure after cardiac surgery with parasternal intercostal plane blocks (EPOCH CardioLink-10)—authors' response

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Important distinctions exist between single-injection and catheter-based superficial parasternal intercostal plane blockade that must be considered when interpreting evidence for reducing opioid exposure after cardiac surgery. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Ahmad Alli; C David Mazer; S Verma

doi:10.1016/j.lana.2026.101611

August 31, 2026The Lancet Regional Health - AmericasOpen Access

Reducing opioid exposure after cardiac surgery with parasternal intercostal plane blocks (EPOCH CardioLink-10)—authors' response

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Key Points

Address commentary on the EPOCH CardioLink-10 trial and clarify distinctions between single-injection and catheter-based superficial parasternal intercostal plane (SPIP) blocks for postoperative analgesia.
Author correspondence responding to expert commentary on regional analgesia outcomes in cardiac surgery.
Evaluation of technical distinctions and available clinical evidence regarding single-injection versus continuous catheter-based SPIP blockade.
Highlights procedural and clinical distinctions essential for interpreting SPIP block efficacy in reducing opioid exposure.
Concludes that direct head-to-head clinical trials are warranted to compare single-injection and catheter-based SPIP techniques directly.

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Implication

Author correspondence clarifies technique differences in parasternal intercostal plane blocks after cardiac surgery, highlighting single-injection versus catheter approaches.

Abstract

We thank Mehta and colleagues1 for their thoughtful and complimentary comments regarding EPOCH CardioLink-10.2 Although further direct comparisons of single-injection and catheter-based superficial parasternal intercostal plane (SPIP) blockade may be warranted, we believe that several distinctions are important when interpreting our findings and the available evidence.

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Alli et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e249c562ede874ec64ab https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2026.101611

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Reducing opioid exposure after cardiac surgery with parasternal intercostal plane blocks (EPOCH CardioLink-10)—authors' response

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Reducing opioid exposure after cardiac surgery with parasternal intercostal plane blocks (EPOCH CardioLink-10)—authors' response

Key Points

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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