Effect of Intra-Operative Erector Spinae Plane Block on Post-Operative Consumption of Opioids after Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries (VATS)

Abstract Background Pain is an everyday challenge during all surgeries and it is a chief postoperative complication, so pain management is a corner stone in anesthetic practice. Although VATS is less painful than an open thoracotomy, patients may still feel severe pain and restricted mobility during the first few postoperative hours. Ultrasound guided nerve block is considered a recent technique for pain management. It provides better visualization of the nerves and reduces the risk for complications e.g. unintended injury to adjacent structures. Objective to assess the analgesic efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided ESPB done at lumbar transverse process level in patients undergoing VATS for postoperative analgesia. Patients and Methods The study was conducted in Ain Shams university Hospitals after approval of the ethics committee and written patients’ consent. It included a total of 30 adult patients aged 21-50 years, Scheduled for lumbar spine surgeries. Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups, 15 each, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group A (n = 15): Received fentanyl 1-2 mcg/kg during induction of anesthesia and maintained by additional boluses of fentanyl.5 mcg/kg, also received ketrolac 30mg and perfelgan 1gm before extubation in addition 40 ml bupivacaine 0.25% (20ml on each side) as a single level bilateral injection for ESPB. Group B (n = 15) (the controlled group): Received only fentanyl 1- 2 mcg/kg during induction of anesthesia and maintained by additional boluses of fentanyl.5 mcg/kg, also received ketrolac 30mg and perfelgan 1gm before extubation. Results The main finding in this study was that ultrasound guided ESPB at level of thoracic process provides a good analgesic effect in patients undergoing VATS also reduced the total amount of postoperative morphine consumption in comparison to controlled group, Prolonged the time to first request of analgesia (duration of analgesia), Provided early mobilization, Increase patient satisfaction in 1st 24 hour and Decrease incidence of nausea and vomiting due to decrease opioids intake. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block reduced postoperative morphine consumption, alleviated postoperative pain scores and improved patients’ satisfaction in the first 24 hours after VATS, without associated any adverse effects or complications like nausea and vomiting, nerve injury, respiratory depression and hematoma formation. The ESPB slightly decreased the rate of PONV. This might be because the use of ESP might have decreased the use of intraoperative opioids.