Serratus Anterior Plane Block and Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Perioperative Thoracotomy Pain Control: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of erector spinae plane block and serratus anterior plane block versus thoracic epidural in perioperative pain control for patients with cancer undergoing lung surgeries.

Design: Single blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: The study was carried out at the National Cancer Institute in Cairo, Egypt.

Participants: Fifty-one patients with cancer.

Interventions: Patients were allocated randomly into three groups: thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) group, serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) group, and erector spinae plane block (ESPB) group.

Measurements and main results: Outcome measures were 24 hours postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), intraoperative rescue fentanyl consumption, perioperative heart rate, mean blood pressure (mean arterial pressure [MAP]), and total postoperative morphine consumption. VAS scores at rest were significantly lower in the TEA group at the postanesthesia care unit and 24 hours. VAS scores with cough were significantly higher in the SAPB group at eight and 24 hours. The first time to receive morphine was significantly longer in the TEA group. No patients in the TEA group required postoperative morphine, whereas 88.2% and 47.1% required morphine in the SAPB and ESPB groups, respectively, p < 0.001. In the TEA group, intraoperative MAP values were lower than the other two groups, p < 0.05.

Conclusions: Erector spinae plane block can be used as an effective and safe alternative to thoracic epidural analgesia and shows superior analgesic profile to serratus anterior plane block for patients with lung cancer undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy.

Keywords: erector spinae plane block; lung cancer; serratus plane block; thoracic epidural.