Bilateral Continuous Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Blockade for Perioperative Opioid-Sparing in Median Sternotomy

Comparison of Multiple Injection Costotransverse Block and Erector Spinae Plane Block for Post-Sternotomy Pain Relief in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided multiple injection costotransverse block (MICB) and compare it with erector spinae plane block (ESPB) for poststernotomy pain relief in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomized, double-blind, comparative study.

SETTING

At a single institution tertiary referral cardiac center.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 90 children with acyanotic congenital heart disease requiring surgery via sternotomy.

INTERVENTIONS

Children were allocated randomly to 1 of the 3 following groups: ESPB (group 1), MICB (group 2), or Control (group 3). Participants in groups 1 and 2 received 4 mg/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine for bilateral ultrasound-guided block after induction of anesthesia. Postoperatively, intravenous paracetamol was used for multimodal analgesia, and fentanyl/tramadol was used for rescue analgesia.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The modified objective pain score (MOPS) was evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours postextubation. After all exclusions, 84 patients were analyzed. The MOPS score was found to be significantly lower in ESPB and MICB groups compared to the control group until 10 hours postextubation (p < 0.05), with no statistically significant difference at the 12th hour (p = 0.2198). The total intraoperative fentanyl consumption (p = 0.0005), need for fentanyl supplementation on incision (p < 0.0001), and need for rescue opioid requirement in the postoperative period (p = 0.034) were significantly lower in both the ESPB and MICB groups than the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in both primary and secondary outcomes between the ESPB and MICB groups.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided MICB was effective and comparable to ESPB for post-sternotomy pain management in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) for analgesia after MIDCAB.

METHODS

We conducted randomized controlled trial in 60 patients undergoing MIDCAB who received either a single-shot ESPB with 30 mL of ropivacaine 0.5% (ESPB group, n = 30) or normal saline 0.9% (control group, n = 30). The primary outcome was numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores at rest within 48 hr postoperatively. The secondary outcomes included postoperative NRS pain scores on deep inspiration within 48 hr, hydromorphone consumption, and quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) score at 24 and 48 hr.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the ESPB group had lower NRS pain scores at rest at 6 hr (estimated mean difference, -2.1; 99% confidence interval [CI], -2.7 to -1.5; P < 0.001), 12 hr (-1.9; 99% CI, -2.6 to -1.2; P < 0.001), and 18 hr (-1.2; 99% CI, -1.8 to -0.6; P < 0.001) after surgery. The ESPB group also showed lower pain scores on deep inspiration at 6 hr (-2.9; 99% CI, -3.6 to -2.1; P < 0.001), 12 hr (-2.3; 99% CI, -3.1 to -1.5; P < 0.001), and 18 hr (-1.0; 99% CI, -1.8 to -0.2; P = 0.01) postoperatively. Patients in the ESPB group had lower total intraoperative fentanyl use, lower 24-hr hydromorphone consumption, a shorter time to extubation, and a shorter time to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge.

CONCLUSION

Erector spinae plane block provided early effective postoperative analgesia and reduced opioid consumption, time to extubation, and ICU discharge in patients undergoing MIDCAB.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100052810); registered 5 November 2021.

Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in robotically-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of a randomized placebo-controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing robotically-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass surgery (RAMIDCAB).

DESIGN

A single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Postoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixty-four patients undergoing RAMIDCAB surgery via left-sided mini-thoracotomy and enrolled in the institutional enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program.

INTERVENTIONS

At the end of surgery, patients received an ESP catheter at vertebra T5 under ultrasound guidance and were randomized to the administration of either ropivacaine 0.5% (loading dose of 30 ml and three additional doses of 20 ml each, interspersed with a 6 h interval) or normal saline 0.9% (with an identical administration scheme). In addition, patients received multimodal analgesia including acetaminophen, dexamethasone and patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. Following the final ESP bolus and before catheter removal, the position of the catheter was re-evaluated by ultrasound. Patients, investigators and medical personnel were blinded for the group allocation during the entire trial.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption during the first 24 h after extubation. Secondary outcomes included location and severity of pain, presence/extent of sensory block, duration of postoperative ventilation and hospital length of stay. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

Median (IQR) 24-h morphine consumption was not different between the intervention- and control-groups, 67 mg (35-84) versus 71 mg (52-90) (p = 0.25), respectively. Likewise, no differences were detected in secondary and safety endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

Following RAMIDCAB surgery, adding an ESP block to a standard multimodal analgesia regimen did not reduce opioid consumption and pain scores.

Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: Results of a double-blind, prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate if an erector spinae plane (ESP) block decreases postoperative opioid consumption, pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS).

DESIGN

A single-center, double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Postoperative period; operating room, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital ward in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Seventy-two patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic MIMVS via right-sided mini-thoracotomy and enrolled in the institutional enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program.

INTERVENTIONS

At the end of surgery, all patients received an ESP catheter at vertebra T5 under ultrasound guidance and were randomized to the administration of either ropivacaine 0.5% (loading of dose 30 ml and three additional doses of 20 ml with a 6 h interval) or normal saline 0.9% (with an identical administration scheme). In addition, patients received multimodal postoperative analgesia including dexamethasone, acetaminophen and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. Following the final ESP bolus and before catheter removal, the position of the catheter was re-evaluated by ultrasound. Patients, investigators and medical personnel were blinded for the group allocation during the entire trial.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was cumulative morphine consumption during the first 24 h after extubation. Secondary outcomes included severity of pain, presence/extent of sensory block, duration of postoperative ventilation and hospital length of stay. Safety outcomes comprised the incidence of adverse events.

MAIN RESULTS

Median (IQR) 24-h morphine consumption was not different between the intervention- and control-group, 41 mg (30-55) versus 37 mg (29-50) (p = 0.70), respectively. Likewise, no differences were detected for secondary and safety endpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

Following MIMVS, adding an ESP block to a standard multimodal analgesia regimen did not reduce opioid consumption and pain scores.

Ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block in dogs undergoing sternotomies anaesthetised with propofol-dexmedetomidine continuous infusion

BACKGROUND

To describe the use of a bilateral thoracic (T5 - T9) ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (UG-ESPB) in dogs undergoing sternotomy anaesthetised with propofol and dexmedetomidine continuous infusions.

METHODS

Demographic information, perioperative anaesthetic and analgesic drugs, the prevalence of hypotension and nociceptive events, and their treatment, were recorded and analysed. Local anaesthetic injection point, volume and concentration were reported for each dog. In attempt to differentiate somatic nociception from visceral nociception, the surgery was divided into three timeframes: from the skin incision to the thoracic cavity opening; from the latter to the beginning of its closure; from thoracic cavity closure to the end of surgery.

RESULTS

Overall, 10 dogs were included and four experienced nociception: somatic nociception was recorded in one dog, whereas visceral nociception was recorded in four dogs. The overall fentanyl consumption to control nociception was 0.3 µg/kg/h. No adverse events associated with the UG-ESPB were reported.

CONCLUSION

The bilateral UG-ESPB could be used as a part of a multimodal analgesic technique in dogs undergoing sternotomies. However, more clinical studies are warranted to assess its safety and effects.

Bilateral continuous erector spinae plane block for cardiac surgery: case series

Multimodal analgesia in cardiac surgery sternotomy includes bilateral continuous erector spinae plane block (BC-ESPB). However, the effectiveness of the local anesthetic regimens is still uncertain. The purpose of this study was to assess pain control achieved with a multimodal analgesia regimen including BC-ESPB at the level of T5 with PCA with a 0.125 % bupivacaine infusion and rescue boluses. This is a descriptive case series study which recruited 11 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery through sternotomy in whom multimodal analgesia including BC-ESPB was used, between February and April 2021, at a fourth level institution. All patients reported pain according to the numeric rating scale (NRS)  ≤ 3 both at rest and in motion, at extubation and then 4 and 12 hours after surgery. After 24 hours the pain was NRS ≤ 3 in 100 % of the patients at rest and in 63.6 % in motion. At 48 h 81 % of the patients reported pain NRS ≤ 3 at rest and in motion. At 72h all patients reported pain NRS ≤ 3 at rest and 82 % in motion. The average intraoperative use of fentanyl was 2.35 µg/kg and postoperative hydromorphone was 5.3, 4.1 and 3.3 mg at 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Hence, bilateral ESP block in continuous infusion plus rescue boluses allows for proper control of acute intra and post-operative pain.

Erector Spinae Plane Block for Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgeries via Sternotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Ineffective management of postoperative pain following pediatric cardiac surgeries adversely affects a patient’s postoperative course. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block has been described in the literature regarding perioperative pain management. We hypothesized that bilateral ESP blocks in pediatric patients would decrease intraoperative fentanyl consumption, reduce the need for postoperative morphine consumption, and improve pain scores.

Objectives

The aim of this double-blinded randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral ESP blocks in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgeries through a median sternotomy.

Methods

The study involved 98 children aged 6 months to 7 years who were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II and III and scheduled for cardiac surgery through a median sternotomy. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups: the ES group (n = 50) who received bilateral ultrasound-guided ESP blocks, and the N group (n = 48) who received no block. The primary outcome was the total dose of administered fentanyl intraoperatively. Secondary outcomes included morphine consumption in the first 24 hours postoperatively; the length of time before the first need for postoperative analgesia; and FLACC (face, legs, activity, consolability, and cry) scores at the first and second hours postoperatively and every 4 hours, with readings taken for a period of 24 hours.

Results

There were statistically significantly higher levels of administered fentanyl intraoperatively (6.7 ± 3 vs 4.3 ± 1.9 µg.kg^-1) and postoperative morphine consumption (0.5 ± 0.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.2 mg.kg^-1) in the N group compared with the ES group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the timing of the first rescue analgesia was significantly delayed in the ES group compared with the N group (231.6 ± 104.5 vs 108.8 ± 47.8 minutes).

Conclusions

Bilateral ultrasound-guided ESP blocks can be used to reduce perioperative opioid consumption in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery through a sternotomy. It also can be used to decrease postoperative pain scores.

Erector spinae plane block for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: a double-blind, prospective, randomised placebo-controlled trial-a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

In the context of enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery, surgical techniques for mitral valve surgery have witnessed substantial modifications, from approaching the heart using open approaches with traditional sternotomy to thoracoscopic access via minithoracotomy. After cardiac surgery, acute postoperative pain is frequent and caused by surgical incision and retraction. Perioperative analgesia in cardiac surgery still relies mainly on opioids. Although neuraxial techniques could be a valuable non-opioid-based analgesia regimen, they can be associated with devastating complications in situations with (iatrogenic) coagulation abnormalities. Only two randomised clinical trials describe the erector spinae plane (ESP) block to provide sufficient postoperative analgesia following cardiac surgery with median sternotomy. Regarding postoperative analgesia after cardiac surgery with a minithoracotomy approach, adequately designed trials are still lacking. We, therefore, designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to prove the hypothesis that the ESP block reduces opioid consumption in patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Sixty-four patients undergoing MIMVS will be included in this double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled trial. Patients will be randomised to receive an ESP block with a catheter with either intermittent ropivacaine 0.5% (ropi group) or normal saline 0.9% (placebo group). Both groups will receive patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine following extubation. Primary endpoint is the 24-hour cumulative morphine consumption after extubation. Multiple secondary endpoints will be evaluated.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study is approved by the ethics committee of the University Hospitals Leuven, the Clinical Trials Centre of the University Hospitals Leuven and the 'Federaal Agentschap voor Geneesmiddelen en Gezondheidsproducten'. Dissemination of the study results will be via scientific papers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

EudraCT identifier: 2019-001125-27.

Ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks of the chest wall: a state-of-the-art review

Ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks of the chest wall are increasingly popular alternatives to established techniques such as thoracic epidural or paravertebral blockade, as they are simple to perform and have an appealing safety profile. Many different techniques have been described, which can be broadly categorised into anteromedial, anterolateral and posterior chest wall blocks. Understanding the relevant clinical anatomy is critical not only for block performance, but also to match block techniques appropriately with surgical procedures. The sensory innervation of tissues deep to the skin (e.g. muscles, ligaments and bone) can be overlooked, but is often a significant source of pain. The primary mechanism of action for these blocks is a conduction blockade of sensory afferents travelling in the targeted fascial planes, as well as of peripheral nociceptors in the surrounding tissues. A systemic action of absorbed local anaesthetic is plausible but unlikely to be a major contributor. The current evidence for their clinical applications indicates that certain chest wall techniques provide significant benefit in breast and thoracic surgery, similar to that provided by thoracic paravertebral blockade. Their role in trauma and cardiac surgery is evolving and holds great potential. Further avenues of research into these versatile techniques include: optimal local anaesthetic dosing strategies; high-quality randomised controlled trials focusing on patient-centred outcomes beyond acute pain; and comparative studies to determine which of the myriad blocks currently on offer should be core competencies in anaesthetic practice.