Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block for Acute Post-Surgical Pain in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the analgesic efficacy of bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) block compared with conventional treatment for pain after cardiac surgery in adult patients.

DESIGN:

A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.

SETTING:

Single-center tertiary teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS:

One hundred and six adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients were randomized into 2 groups. Patients in group 1 (ESP block group, n = 53) received ultrasound-guided bilateral ESP block with 3 mg/kg of 0.375% ropivacaine before anesthesia induction at the T6 transverse process level. Patients in group 2 (paracetamol and tramadol group, n = 53) received paracetamol (1 gm every 6 hours) and tramadol (50 mg every 8 hours) intravenously in the postoperative period. The primary study outcome was to evaluate pain at rest using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparing NRS scores.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

The postoperative pain level after extubation and duration of analgesia during which NRS was < 4 of 10 was compared between the groups. The median pain score at rest after extubation in group 1 was 0 of 10 until hour 6, 3 of 10 at hour 8, and 4 of 10 at hours 10 and 12 postextubation. These were significantly less in comparison with group 2 (p = 0.0001). Patients in group 1 had a significantly higher mean duration of analgesia (8.98 ± 0.14 hours), during which NRS was < 4 of 10, compared with group 2 (4.60 ± 0.12 hours) (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION:

ESP block safely provided significantly better pain relief at rest for longer duration as compared to intravenous paracetamol and tramadol.

• Authors: Siva N Krishna, Sandeep Chauhan, Debesh Bhoi, Brajesh Kaushal, Suruchi Hasija, Tsering Sangdup, Akshay K Bisoi
• Journal: Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia (J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth) Vol. 33 Issue 2 Pg. 368-375 (02 2019) ISSN: 1532-8422 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30055991 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
• Analgesics, Opioid
• Acetaminophen
• Tramadol

Topics

• Abdominal Muscles
• Acetaminophen (administration & dosage)
• Acute Pain (diagnosis, therapy)
• Adult
• Analgesia (methods)
• Analgesics, Non-Narcotic (administration & dosage)
• Analgesics, Opioid (administration & dosage)
• Cardiac Surgical Procedures (adverse effects)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Postoperative (diagnosis, therapy)
• Prospective Studies
• Single-Blind Method
• Tramadol (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome