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Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Success of Ultrasound-Guided Neuraxial Anesthesia in Cases with Difficult Anatomy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled
1Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) has been increasingly applied in patients for postoperative analgesia. Its effectiveness remain uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided ESPB in adults undergoing general anesthesia (GA) surgeries.
Methods:
A systematic databases search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESPB with control or placebo. Primary outcome was iv. opioid consumption 24 h after surgery. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random-effects model.
Results:
A total of 12 RCTs consisting of 590 patients were included. Ultrasound-guided ESPB showed a reduction of intravenous opioid consumption 24 h after surgery (SMD = - 2.18; 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.76 to - 1.61,p < 0.00001). Considerable heterogeneity was observed (87%). It further reduced the number of patients who required postoperative analgesia (RR = 0.41,95% CI 0.25 to 0.66,p = 0,0002) and prolonged time to first rescue analgesia (SMD = 4.56,95% CI 1.89 to 7.22, p = 0.0008).
Conclusions:
Ultrasound-guided ESPB provides effective postoperative analgesic in adults undergoing GA surgeries.
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