Comparison of analgesic efficacy of the conventional approach and mid-transverse process to pleura approach of the paravertebral block in video-assisted thoracoscopy surgeries: A randomised controlled trial

Ultrasound image-based paravertebral nerve block combined with general anesthesia in laparoscopic radical resection of esophageal cancer : Paravertebral nerve block versus general anesthesia in the treatment of esophageal cancer: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is the gold standard for analgesia after thoracotomy, but it has limitations. There are few studies on the analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block (PVB) combined with general anesthesia in esophageal cancer surgery.

METHODS

52 TLE patients from November 2020 - November 2021 were randomly divided into Group G (general anesthesia, n = 26) and Group G + P (ultrasound - guided PVB + general anesthesia, n = 26). General data, intraoperative/postoperative indicators, VAS scores, HR, MAP, NTI, and patient satisfaction were recorded.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in general data such as age, gender, BMI, and ASA grade between the two groups (P > 0.05). The intraoperative dosages of propofol, remifentanil, and sufentanil in Group G + P were significantly lower than those in Group G, while the dosage of phenylephrine was higher. The extubation time, PACU stay time, and postoperative hospital stay in Group G + P were shorter, the dosage of sufentanil in PACU was less, and the incidence of agitation was lower. The VAS scores of Group G + P in the resting and coughing states at multiple time points such as waking up, leaving the PACU, and after surgery were significantly lower than those of Group G. There was no significant difference in HR between the two groups at most time points during the operation. The MAP of Group G was higher than that of Group G + P at time points t8 and t9, and there were significant differences in NTI between the two groups from t2 to t7. The satisfaction rate of patients in Group G + P (96.14%) was significantly higher than that in Group G (80.76%).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound - guided PVB combined with general anesthesia reduces opioid use, eases pain, lowers agitation, shortens hospital stay, and boosts satisfaction in esophageal cancer surgery patients.

Intertransverse process block (ITPB) at the retro-superior costotransverse ligament (retro-SCTL) space: Evaluation of local anesthetic spread using MRI and sensory blockade in healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the spread of a local anesthetic, using MRI and sensory blockade, after an intertransverse process block (ITPB) at the medial aspect of the retro-superior costotransverse ligament (retro-SCTL) space - the medial retro-SCTL space block.

METHODS

Ten healthy volunteers received a single-injection ultrasound-guided medial retro-SCTL space block at the T4-T5 level using a mixture of 10 ml 0.5 % bupivacaine with 0.5 ml gadolinium. At 15 min, they underwent a high resolution, fat suppressed, T1 weighted MRI scan of the cervicothoracic spine. Loss of sensation to cold was assessed at 15 and 60 min, and then hourly for 5-h, after the block.

RESULTS

MRI showed consistent (100 %) spread of local anesthetic to the intercostal and paravertebral spaces, anterolateral aspect of the vertebral body (sympathetic chain), costotransverse space, neural foramina, and epidural space in all participants. However, sensory blockade was variable across the ipsilateral hemithorax. Hypoesthesia was more common than anesthesia in both the anterior (median [IQR], 3.5 [2-5] vs 0 [0-1.25], p < 0.001) and posterior (median [IQR], 6[3-7] vs 2[1-3], p < 0.001) hemithorax. Additionally, more dermatomes exhibited anesthesia in the posterior compared to the anterior hemithorax (median [IQR], 2[1-3] vs 0[0-1.25], p = 0.01). A variable number of contralateral dermatomes were also affected in 3 (30 %) volunteers. There was no statistically significant correlation between the local anesthetic spread and the number of hypoesthetic (r = 0.53, p = 0.11) or anesthetic (r = 0.09, p = 0.78) dermatomes on the ipsilateral hemithorax.

CONCLUSIONS

A single-injection medial retro-SCTL space block, at the T4-T5 level with 10.5 ml of local anesthetic, consistently spreads to the ipsilateral intercostal and paravertebral spaces, sympathetic chain, costotransverse space, neural foramina and epidural space, but produces ipsilateral sensory blockade that is variable and wider over the posterior than anterior hemithorax.

Comparison of midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP) block and erector spinae plane block (ESP) for postoperative analgesia in modified radical mastectomy patients: A double-blinded, randomized control trial

Background and Aims

Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) is associated with moderate severity of postoperative pain. Besides intravenous (IV) analgesics, various nerve blocks are being described for pain relief of MRM patients. We compared erector spinae plane (ESP) block with midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP) block in these patients for postoperative analgesia.

Material and Methods

After receiving ethical committee approval from the institutional ethics committee (AIIMS, Jodhpur) and written informed consent from study participants, 66 patients who were assigned American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II, aged 18-75 years, and were scheduled to undergo MRM were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups. Unilateral block was given before surgery at T3 or T4 level and with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine in both the groups. Infusion of 0.5% ropivacaine (Neon laboratories limited, Mumbai, India) and 0.2% ropivacaine at a rate of 5 ml/h was maintained intraoperatively and postoperatively, respectively. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for the next 24 hours. The total number of patients needing rescue analgesia, the total amount of rescue analgesics consumed in the next 24 hours, and patient satisfaction score were also compared between groups.

Results

Demographics and baseline vitals were comparable in the groups. On comparing VAS scores in both the groups during rest and movement at different time intervals, there was no difference in pain scores during the initial two hours. From the third hour, there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in pain VAS scores in both groups. The ESP group had lower VAS scores compared to the MTP group when followed for the next 24 hours. There was a statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

ESP block is more efficacious when compared to MTP block for postoperative analgesia in MRM patients.

Local anesthetic dosing and toxicity of adult truncal catheters: a narrative review of published practice

BACKGROUND/IMPORTANCE

Anesthesiologists frequently use truncal catheters for postoperative pain control but with limited characterization of dosing and toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

We reviewed the published literature to characterize local anesthetic dosing and toxicity of paravertebral and transversus abdominis plane catheters in adults.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

We searched the literature for bupivacaine or ropivacaine infusions in the paravertebral or transversus abdominis space in humans dosed for 24 hours. We evaluated bolus dosing, infusion dosing and cumulative 24-hour dosing in adults. We also identified cases of local anesthetic systemic toxicity and toxic blood levels.

FINDINGS

Following screening, we extracted data from 121 and 108 papers for ropivacaine and bupivacaine respectively with a total of 6802 patients. For ropivacaine and bupivacaine, respectively, bolus dose was 1.4 mg/kg (95% CI 0.4 to 3.0, n=2978) and 1.0 mg/kg (95% CI 0.18 to 2.1, n=2724); infusion dose was 0.26 mg/kg/hour (95% CI 0.06 to 0.63, n=3579) and 0.2 mg/kg/hour (95% CI 0.06 to 0.5, n=3199); 24-hour dose was 7.75 mg/kg (95% CI 2.1 to 15.7, n=3579) and 6.0 mg/kg (95% CI 2.1 to 13.6, n=3223). Twenty-four hour doses exceeded the package insert recommended upper limit in 28% (range: 17%-40% based on maximum and minimum patient weights) of ropivacaine infusions and 51% (range: 45%-71%) of bupivacaine infusions. Toxicity occurred in 30 patients and was associated with high 24-hour dose, bilateral catheters, cardiac surgery, cytochrome P-450 inhibitors and hypoalbuminemia.

CONCLUSION

Practitioners frequently administer ropivacaine and bupivacaine above the package insert limits, at doses associated with toxicity. Patient safety would benefit from more specific recommendations to limit excessive dose and risk of toxicity.

Insignificant influence of the intertransverse process block for major breast cancer surgery: a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

The intertransverse process (ITP) block mimics the thoracic paravertebral block and allegedly ameliorates hemithoracic postoperative pain. However, concerning major reconstructive breast cancer surgery the modality has never been tested against placebo in a randomized clinical trial. We aimed to assess the efficacy of the multiple-injection ITP block and hypothesized that the blockade would reduce postoperative opioid consumption.

METHODS

We screened 58 patients with breast cancer scheduled for unilateral subpectoral implant-based primary breast reconstruction, involving mastectomy with complete fascial dissection of the major pectoral muscle. A randomization procedure allowed for the allocation of 36 patients to receive either unilateral multiple-injection active ITP block (0.5% ropivacaine 3×10 mL) or placebo ITP block (isotonic saline 3×10 mL) at T2, T4, T6 in a prospective, blinded, clinical trial. The primary outcome was total opioid consumption within the first 24 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption at 4-hour intervals, postoperative pain, patient satisfaction with block application, time to first opioid, ambulation and discharge, opioid-related side effects, and quality of recovery.

RESULTS

Opioid consumption within the first 24 postoperative hours showed no significant reduction when comparing the active and placebo group median (IQR): 75.0 mg (45-135) vs 62.5 mg (30-115), p=0.5, respectively. We did not find any consequential clinically relevant results of the secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Following major reconstructive breast cancer surgery, a preoperative multiple-injection ITP block neither reduces 24-hour opioid consumption postoperatively nor promotes substantial clinical positive outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

EudraCT2019-001016-35.

The midpoint transverse process to pleura (MTP) block for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy: A case series

Among the various regional anesthesia techniques used for postoperative analgesia in the modified radical mastectomy (MRM), thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is presently considered the technique of choice. Nevertheless, TPVB may lead to complications like inadvertent vascular puncture, hypotension, epidural or intrathecal spread, pleural puncture, or pneumothorax. Recently, a newer technique "midpoint transverse process to pleura" (MTP) block has been described in which the tip of the needle is placed at the midpoint between the transverse process and pleura. In this case series, we included ten patients of American Society of Anesthesiologist status I/II scheduled for MRM. Ultrasound-guided MTP block was performed and the catheter was inserted on the side of the surgery at the level of T4 level. The block was successful in the all patients as their median visual analogue score at rest and movement was 2 and 3, respectively, in first 24 h postoperatively. Only three patients required rescue analgesia in the first 24 h. No procedural-related complications were noticed in any patient. We concluded that MTP block provided effective perioperative analgesia with minimal rescue analgesia requirement and satisfactory safety profile.

Bolus intertransverse process block and continuous erector spinae plane block for perioperative analgesic management of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery - Three cases report

BACKGROUND

Common regional anesthesia approaches for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) include paravertebral block (PVB) and erector spinae plane block (ESPB). PVB is considered a deep nerve block which is contraindicated in antithrombotic therapy. ESPB is effective when administered as a bolus, as well as continuously. However, the recently proposed intertransverse process block (ITPB) ensures more effective diffusion of the local anesthetic into the paravertebral space.

CASE

We report cases of three patients who received bolus ITPB (costotransverse foramen block and mid-point transverse process-to-pleura block in one and two cases, respectively) combined with continuous ESPB when a deep nerve block could not be administered. Opioids were not required postoperatively, and all postoperative numerical rating scale scores (0-10) at rest were maintained below 4.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of bolus ITPB and continuous ESPB may be an alternative analgesic method when deep nerve blocks are contraindicated in VATS.

The Comparison of Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Paravertebral Block and Mid-Point Transverse Process Pleura Block in Mastectomy Surgeries: A Randomized Study

PURPOSE/AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this triple-blind randomized study is to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of Mid-Point Transverse Process Pleura Block (MTP) and Paravertebral Block (PVB) in patients undergoing breast surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05332028). A total of 64 patients undergoing unilateral simple mastectomy operation due to breast cancer were included in the study. Before the anesthesia procedure, participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1: Participants undergoing PVB or Group 2: Participants undergoing MTP block. All block applications were performed using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. Routine general anesthesia protocol was performed on all patients. In the postanesthetic care unit, fentanyl infusion was given to all patients postoperatively via a patient-controlled analgesia device. Postoperative fentanyl consumption, time to the first request for analgesia, VAS score values at rest and in motion, and blocked dermatome areas were recorded.

RESULTS

Postoperative total opioid consumption, the number of patients given rescue analgesia, the time requiring postoperative supplemental analgesia, postoperative pain scores at rest and in motion, and blocked dermatome areas at both anterior and posterior lower and upper limits were not different between groups (p > 0.05, for all).

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that ultrasound-guided PVB and MTP blocks have similar postoperative analgesic efficacy in patients undergoing breast surgery. The MTP block may be preferred as an alternative to PVB for breast surgeries with less risk of complications.