Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Management in Adult Cardiac Surgery Among CABG Patients.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Perioperative pain management plays a key role in the management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
We studied the effect of erector spinae plane block on acute intraoperative and postoperative pain and 24 h opioid
consumption in adult cardiac surgical patients.
Methods: Over six months, 50 consecutive adult cardiac surgical patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were enrolled in
the study. A bilateral erector spinae plane catheter was placed in one group and local anesthetics were infused whereas in
the other group opioids were used for pain management. The primary study endpoint was to compare the consumption of fentanyl and to assess the numeric rating scale in the postoperative period in the first 24 h in both groups.

Results: The 24 h fentanyl consumption was 43.00 ± 51.29 micrograms in erector spinae plane catheter group and
147.00 ± 60.94 micrograms in the control group in the first 24 h postoperatively, which was statistically significant
(P < 0.001). The numeric rating scale was also significantly less in the ESP group compared with the control group in the
first 24 h postoperatively.

Conclusion: Erector spinae plane block is superior to the conventional opioid injection method for postoperative pain
management in adult cardiac surgical patients. ESP block not only decreases the overall opioid consumption but also the
NRS score in these patients.

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