Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia-Current Strategies for Enhanced Recovery after Cardiac Surgery

Opioid-Sparing Effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with Median Sternotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

This study assessed the efficacy of preoperative erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in reducing intraoperative opioid use and enhancing recovery in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) patients, who typically require high-dose opioids with associated postoperative risks.

METHODS

A prospective, double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 37 patients. Patients were randomized to receive either bilateral ESPB with 0.375% ropivacaine or a sham block with normal saline. Primary outcomes included intraoperative sufentanil consumption, while secondary outcomes encompassed hemodynamic stability, postoperative pain scores, mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and hospital stay.

RESULTS

The ESPB group demonstrated a significant reduction in intraoperative sufentanil consumption compared to the sham group (150.3 ± 36.1 µg vs. 194.4 ± 38.3 µg, p = 0.001). Postoperatively, ESPB patients exhibited lower pain scores at rest and during coughing within the first 6 h post-extubation (p < 0.001) and required less rescue analgesia (5.3% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.003). Additionally, ESPB shortened MV duration (5.43 ± 1.65 h vs. 6.88 ± 1.68 h, p = 0.013). No significant differences were observed in cardiac care unit or hospital stay lengths.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative ESPB effectively reduces intraoperative opioid requirements and provides sustained analgesia in the early postoperative period, facilitating earlier extubation. These findings support ESPB as a valuable component of multimodal analgesia in OPCABG, though further large-scale studies are needed to validate these results and optimize its application.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was registered with the China Clinical Trials Center ( http://www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR2200066902) on December 21, 2022.

A review of recent advances in anesthetic drugs for patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Inducing and maintaining general anesthesia requires a diverse set of medications. Currently, heart surgery anesthetic management does not adhere to any one standard protocol or set of drugs. To ensure steady circulatory function while providing sufficient sedation, anesthetic medications are carefully selected for cardiovascular operations. Among the opioids used most often in cardiac surgery are fentanyl, sufentanil, and remifentanil. As a cardiac anesthesiologist, your key responsibilities will be to maintain your patient's blood pressure (BP) and oxygen levels, reduce the frequency and intensity of ischemia events, and make it easy for them to get off of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and supplemental oxygen fast. Additionally, new knowledge gaps have been identified as a result of developments in cardiac anesthetics, which must be addressed. The goal of the most recent developments in cardiac anesthesia has been to decrease risks and increase accuracy in patient outcomes during cardiac surgeries. Furthermore, new methods and tools are contributing to the evolution of cardiovascular anesthesia toward a more dynamic, patient-centered approach, with an eye on boosting safety, decreasing complications, and facilitating better recovery for patients. New medications and methods have emerged in the field of anesthetic pharmacology, aiming to improve anesthesia management, particularly for patients who have cardiovascular disease. Optimal cardiovascular stability, fewer side effects, and enhanced surgical recovery are achieved by use of these medications. We have reviewed all the different kinds of cardiac anesthetic techniques and medications in this research. We have also examined the many new anesthetic medicines that have been produced and used for individuals with cardiovascular issues. Next, we covered prospects in the realm of cardiovascular anesthesia and novel cardiac anesthetic drugs.

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.

The Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Approach in Heart Valve Surgery: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to reduce postoperative complications and promote earlier recovery. Although it is well established in noncardiac surgery fields, the ERAS approach has only recently been adopted in cardiac surgery. The aim of this review is to evaluate the status and implementation of ERAS protocols in patients undergoing heart valve surgery and to summarise associated clinical results. Methods: A literature search for the period January 2015 and January 2024 was performed through online databases. Clinical studies (randomised controlled trials and cohort studies) on patients undergoing heart valve surgical procedures and comparing ERAS and conventional approaches were included. The data extracted covered studies and populations characteristics, early outcomes and the features of each ERAS protocol. Results: There were 14 studies that fulfilled the final search criteria and were ultimately included in the review. Overall, 5142 patients were identified in the 14 studies, with 2501 in ERAS groups and 2641 patients who were representative of control groups. Seven experiences exclusively included patients who underwent heart valve surgery. Twelve out of fourteen protocols involved multiple interventions from the preoperative to postoperative phase, while two studies reported actions limited to intraoperative and postoperative care. We found high heterogeneity among the included protocols regarding key actions targeted for improvement and measured outcomes. All the studies showed that ERAS pathways can be safely adopted in cardiac surgery and in most of the experiences were associated with shorter mechanical ventilation time, reduced postoperative opioid use and reduced ICU and hospital stays. Conclusions: As demonstrated in noncardiac surgery, the adoption of structured ERAS protocols has the potential to improve results in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. Further evidence based on larger populations is needed, including more homogenous pathways and reporting further outcomes in terms of patient satisfaction, recovery and quality of life after surgery.

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.

Preemptive deep parasternal intercostal plane block for perioperative analgesia in coronary artery bypass grafting with sternotomy: a randomized, observer-blind, controlled study

OBJECTIVE

The precise characteristics of deep parasternal intercostal plane block (DPIP), which is useful for providing analgesia during open heart surgery, have not yet been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we aimed to establish the efficacy, define the cutaneous sensory block area, and determine the duration of preemptive DPIP block at the T3-4 or T4-5 intercostal spaces in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) via sternotomy.

DESIGN

A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Patients were randomly divided into three cohorts, each containing thirty patients.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety patients who underwent elective CABG via sternotomy were included in this study.

INTERVENTIONS

The T3-4 and T4-5 groups received a preoperative single-shot DPIP block at the respective intercostal spaces. The principal objective of the study was to ascertain the optimal dosage of sufentanil administered during surgical procedures involving either a DPIP block or its absence, and to conduct a comparative analysis thereof across distinct injection sites, specifically T3-4 and T4-5. Secondary factors considered were the dosage of postoperative analgesics, the extent of sensory block on the skin, pain levels after extubation, time of recovery from anesthesia (time to extubation), duration of the block, and the occurrence of nausea and vomiting.

MEASUREMENTS & MAIN RESULTS

Preemptive DPIP block significantly reduced intraoperative sufentanil requirement compared to the control group (T3-4:0.38 ± 0.1, T4-5:0.32 ± 0.10, vs. Control:0.88 ± 0.3 μg/kg/h, p < 0.001). It also resulted in decreased analgesic consumption and numeric rating scale scores on the day of surgery (p < 0.01 compared to the control group). The DPIP block provided accurate anesthetic coverage of the dermatomes in the sternal region and reduced the time to extubation and postoperative nausea. However, the injection point (either via the T3-4 intercostal or the T4-5 intercostal) did not affect the efficacy. Preoperative DPIP block failed to provide adequate analgesia beyond 24 h post-surgery.

CONCLUSION

Preemptive bilateral DPIP block provided effective analgesia in patients undergoing CABG during surgery and in the early postoperative period. The analgesic effects of the DPIP block in the T3-4 and T4-5 intercostal spaces were comparable.

Deep Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Sternotomy for Cardiac Surgery-A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the analgesic efficacy of postoperative deep parasternal intercostal plane (DPIP) blocks for patients having cardiac surgery via median sternotomy.

DESIGN

This single-center retrospective study compared patients receiving bilateral DPIP blocks with a matched cohort of patients not receiving DPIP blocks.

SETTING

Large quaternary referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients admitted to the authors' institution from January 1, 2016, to August 14, 2020, for elective cardiac surgery via median sternotomy.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients received ultrasound-guided bilateral DPIP blocks.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 113 patients received a DPIP block; 3,461 patients did not. The estimated multiplicative change in cumulative opioid consumption through 24 hours was 0.42 (95% CI 0.32-0.56; p < 0.001), indicating that patients receiving DPIP blocks required 60% fewer opioids than patients who did not. Proportional odds ratios for the average pain score on postoperative day (POD) 0 was 0.46 (95% CI 0.32-0.65; p < 0.001), and POD 1 was 0.67 (95% CI 0.47-0.94; p = 0.021), indicating lower pain scores for patients receiving blocks. The exploratory analysis identified an inverse correlation between DPIP blocks and atrial fibrillation incidence (2% v 15%; inverse probability of treatment weighting odds ratio 0.088, 95% CI 0.02-0.41; p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of DPIP blocks in patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy was associated with less opioid use and improved pain scores in the early postoperative period compared with patients not receiving blocks. Prospective randomized controlled studies should further elucidate the efficacy and risks of DPIP blocks in cardiac surgery.

Effects of parasternal intercostal block on surgical site wound infection and pain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A meta-analysis

This study aimed to assess the effect of parasternal intercostal block on postoperative wound infection, pain, and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and Wanfang databases were extensively queried using a computer, and randomised controlled studies (RCTs) from the inception of each database to July 2023 were sought using keywords in English and Chinese language. Literature quality was assessed using Cochrane-recommended tools, and the included data were collated and analysed using Stata 17.0 software for meta-analysis. Ultimately, eight RCTs were included. Meta-analysis revealed that utilising parasternal intercostal block during cardiac surgery significantly reduced postoperative wound pain (standardised mean difference [SMD] = -1.01, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: -1.70 to -0.31, p = 0.005) and significantly shortened hospital stay (SMD = -0.40, 95% CI: -0.77 to -0.04, p = 0.029), though it may increase the risk of wound infection (OR = 5.03, 95% CI:0.58-44.02, p = 0.144); however, the difference was not statistically significant. The application of parasternal intercostal block during cardiac surgery can significantly reduce postoperative pain and shorten hospital stay. This approach is worth considering for clinical implementation. Decisions regarding its adoption should be made in conjunction with the relevant clinical indices and surgeon's experience.

Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in cardiac surgeries- A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been used in many studies for providing opioid-sparing analgesia after various cardiac surgeries. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of ESPB in cardiac surgeries. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Google Scholar to identify the studies in which ESPB was compared with the control group/sham block in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries. The primary outcomes were postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores. The secondary outcomes were intraoperative opioid consumption, ventilation time, time to the first mobilization, length of ICU and hospital stay, and adverse events. Out of 607 studies identified, 16 studies (n = 1110 patients) fulfilled inclusion criteria and were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Although, 24-hr opioid consumption were comparable in both groups group (MD, -18.74; 95% CI, -46.85 to 9.36, P = 0.16), the 48-hr opioid consumption was significantly less in ESPB group than control ((MD, -11.01; 95% CI, -19.98 to --2.04, P = 0.02). The pain scores at various time intervals and intraoperative opioid consumption were significantly less in ESPB group. Moreover, duration of ventilation, time to the first mobilization, and length of ICU and hospital were also less in ESPB group (P < 0.00001, P < 0.00001, P < 0.00001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that ESPB provides opioid-sparing perioperative analgesia, facilitates early extubation and mobilization, leads to early discharge from ICU and hospital, and has lesser pruritus when compared to control in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries.

Comparison of regional anesthetic techniques for postoperative analgesia after adult cardiac surgery: bayesian network meta-analysis

Background

Patients usually suffer acute pain after cardiac surgery. Numerous regional anesthetic techniques have been used for those patients under general anesthesia. The most effective regional anesthetic technique was still unclear.

Methods

Five databases were searched, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library. The efficiency outcomes were pain scores, cumulative morphine consumption, and the need for rescue analgesia in this Bayesian analysis. Postoperative nausea, vomiting and pruritus were safety outcomes. Functional outcomes included the time to tracheal extubation, ICU stay, hospital stay, and mortality.

Results

This meta-analysis included 65 randomized controlled trials involving 5,013 patients. Eight regional anesthetic techniques were involved, including thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), erector spinae plane block, and transversus thoracic muscle plane block. Compared to controls (who have not received regional anesthetic techniques), TEA reduced the pain scores at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h both at rest and cough, decreased the rate of need for rescue analgesia (OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.016-0.55), shortened the time to tracheal extubation (MD = -181.55, 95% CI: -243.05 to -121.33) and the duration of hospital stay (MD = -0.73, 95% CI: -1.22 to -0.24). Erector spinae plane block reduced the pain score 6 h at rest and the risk of pruritus, shortened the duration of ICU stay compared to controls. Transversus thoracic muscle plane block reduced the pain scores 6 and 12 h at rest compared to controls. The cumulative morphine consumption of each technique was similar at 24, 48 h. Other outcomes were also similar among these regional anesthetic techniques.

Conclusions

TEA seems the most effective regional postoperative anesthesia for patients after cardiac surgery by reducing the pain scores and decreasing the rate of need for rescue analgesia.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, ID: CRD42021276645.

Comparison of transversus thoracis muscle plane block and pecto-intercostal fascial plane block for enhanced recovery after pediatric open-heart surgery

BACKGROUND

Effective analgesia after cardiac surgery contributes to enhanced recovery.

AIM

To compare the perioperative analgesic effectiveness of Transversus Thoracis Muscle Plane Block (TTPB) and Pecto-Intercostal-Fascial Plane Block (PIFB) for controlling post-sternotomy pain in the pediatric population for ultrafast track cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Double-blind randomized study of 60 children, 2-12 years old, undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy in whom a bilateral ultrasound-guided TTPB or TIBP block was performed preemptively.

RESULTS

Epidemiologic data of both groups were comparable. TTPB group had a lower median Modified Objective Pain Score (MOPS) all over the time postoperatively. Fentanyl consumption was significantly lower in TTBP group compared with PIFB group, only 4/30 received supplemental fentanyl during surgery in the TTPB group vs. 11/30 in the PIFB group (p = 0.033). The median [interquartile] values of postoperative fentanyl consumption were significantly lower in the TTBP compared with PIFB group: 12.0 [10.0-12.0] vs. 15.0 [15.0-16.0] µg/kg (p < 0.001), respectively. First rescue analgesia was later in the TTPB group compared to the PIFB group with median times of 7.25 and 5.0 hours, respectively (p < 0.001). Both groups had a comparable ICU length of stay (p = 0.919), with a median of 3 days. Furthermore, in the PIFB group, the incidence of non-sternal wound chest pain (53.3%) was significantly higher than in the TTPB group (3.3%) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TTPB and PIFB are safe regional blocks that could enhance recovery after pediatric cardiac surgery. In our series, TTPB provided better and longer-lasting postoperative analgesia with less incidence of non-sternal wound pain than PIFB.

Pectoral Fascial Plane Versus Paravertebral Blocks for Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery Analgesia

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the postoperative analgesic efficacy of single-injection pectoral fascial plane (PECS) II blocks compared to paravertebral blocks for elective robotic mitral valve surgery.

DESIGN

A single-center retrospective study that reported patient and procedural characteristics, postoperative pain scores, and postoperative opioid use for patients undergoing robotic mitral valve surgery.

SETTING

This investigation was performed at a large quaternary referral center.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients (age ≥18) admitted to the authors' hospital from January 1, 2016, to August 14, 2020, for elective robotic mitral valve repair who received either a paravertebral or PECS II block for postoperative analgesia.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients received an ultrasound-guided, unilateral paravertebral or PECS II nerve block.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred twenty-three patients received a PECS II block, and 190 patients received a paravertebral block during the study period. The primary outcome measures were average postoperative pain scores and cumulative opioid use. Secondary outcomes included hospital and intensive care unit lengths of stay, need for reoperation, need for antiemetics, surgical wound infection, and atrial fibrillation incidence. Patients receiving the PECS II block required significantly fewer opioids in the immediate postoperative period than the paravertebral block group, and had comparable postoperative pain scores. No increase in adverse outcomes was noted for either group.

CONCLUSIONS

The PECS II block is a safe and highly effective option for regional analgesia for robotic mitral valve surgery, with demonstrated efficacy comparable to the paravertebral block.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Different Plane Blocks in Isolated Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effects of serratus anterior plane block (SPB) and its combination with transverse thoracic muscle plane block (TTPB) on analgesia, opioid consumption, incentive spirometry performance, and patient comfort.

DESIGN

A prospective, observational study.

SETTING

A university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients who received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia only were labeled as the control group. Patients who received additional SPB were labeled as the SPB group, and patients who received additional SPB and TTPB were labeled as the SPB+TTPB group. The visual analog scores for pain (VAS), time to first analgesic requirement, total tramadol requirement, incentive spirometry values, and patient comfort indices were recorded during the first 36 postoperative hours.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

From October 2020 to October 2021, data from 95 patients were analyzed. The VAS score was lower in the SPB+TTPB group at 0, 14, and 18 hours (p < 0.001, p = 0.028, p = 0.047, respectively). Time to first analgesic was longer in the SPB+TTPB group (8 hours v 0-2 hours, p = 0.001). Total tramadol consumption was similar among groups. Incentive spirometer performance was superior in the SPB+TTPB group (p < 0.001). The SPB group had similar success at 0, 14, and 18 hours.

CONCLUSION

Although pain scores and opioid consumption were similar, the addition of TTPB to SPB improved pain scores during patient mobilization and incentive spirometry capacity.

General Anesthesia as a Multimodal Individualized Clinical Concept

In the last decades, several new and modern techniques have been developed for the continuous monitoring of vitals for patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. These complex methods are meant to come as an adjunct to classical monitoring protocols used in general anesthesia to increase patient safety. The main objectives of multimodal monitoring are avoiding the over- or underdosing of anesthetic drugs, adapting the concentration for the substances in use, reducing post-anesthetic complications, and increasing patient comfort. Recent studies have shown a series of benefits with significant clinical impact such as a reduced incidence of nausea and vomiting, shorter reversal times, a reduction in opioid consumption, shorter hospital stays, and an increase in patient satisfaction.

Ultrasound-Guided PECS II + Serratus Plane Fascial Blocks Are Associated with Reduced Opioid Consumption and Lengths of Stay for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery: An Observational Retrospective Study

This study tested the hypothesis that pectoralis II (PECS II) + serratus plane blocks would reduce opioid consumption and improve outcomes compared with standard practice in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. A retrospective and observational study was realized in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting of “ICLAS GVM, Istitituto Clinico Ligure Alta Specialità, (Rapallo, Italy)”, including adult patients who underwent right minithoracotomy for replacement/plastic aortic, mitral and tricuspid valve or atrial myxoma resection in cardiac surgery. Seventy-eight patients were extracted by the database and divided into two groups. Group 1 (41 patients) received ultrasound-guided PECS II + serratus plane blocks with Ropivacaine 0.25% 10 mL + 20 mL + 30 mL. Group 2 (37 patients) received intravenous opioids analgesia with morphine 20−25 mg/day or tramadol 200−300 mg/day. The primary outcomes were: the pain perceived: Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) score; the opioids consumption: mg morphine or tramadol, or µg sufentanyl administered; and mg paracetamol, toradol, tramadol or morphine administered as a rescue. The secondary outcomes were the hours of orotracheal intubation and of stay in ICU, and the number of episodes of nausea, vomiting, delayed awakening and respiratory depression. Group 1 vs. Group 2 consumed less opioids (Sufentanyl p < 0.0001; Morphine p < 0.0001), had a lower pain perceived (p = 0.002 at 6 h, p = 0.0088 at 12 h, p < 0.0001 at 24 h), need for rescue analgesia (p = 0.0005), episodes of nausea and vomiting (p = 0.0237) and intubation time and ICU stay (p = 0.0147 time of IOT, p < 0.0001 stay in ICU). Ultrasound-guided PECS II + serratus plane blocks demonstrated better than intravenous opioids analgesia in patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Chest Wall Nerve Blocks for Cardiothoracic, Breast Surgery, and Rib-Related Pain

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Perioperative analgesia in patients undergoing chest wall procedures such as cardiothoracic and breast surgeries or analgesia for rib fracture trauma can be challenging due to several factors: the procedures are more invasive, the chest wall innervation is complex, and the patient population may have multiple comorbidities increasing their susceptibility to the well-defined pain and opioid-related side effects. These procedures also carry a higher risk of persistent pain after surgery and chronic opioid use making the analgesia goals even more important.

RECENT FINDINGS

With advances in ultrasonography and clinical research, regional anesthesia techniques have been improving and newer ones with more applications have emerged over the last decade. Currently in cardiothoracic procedures, para-neuraxial and chest wall blocks have been utilized with success to supplement or substitute systemic analgesia, traditionally relying on opioids or thoracic epidural analgesia. In breast surgeries, paravertebral blocks, serratus anterior plane blocks, and pectoral nerve blocks have been shown to be effective in providing pain control, while minimizing opioid use and related side effects. Rib fracture regional analgesia options have also expanded and continue to improve.  Advances in regional anesthesia have tremendously improved multimodal analgesia and contributed to enhanced recovery after surgery protocols. This review provides the latest summary on the use and efficacy of chest wall blocks in cardiothoracic and breast surgery, as well as rib fracture-related pain and persistent postsurgical pain.