Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in Chinese patients undergoing laparoscopic...

Pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a main concern for Chinese clinicians. This study aims to explore the effect of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on the postoperative analgesia of patients undergoing LC in China.

In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 220 patients were randomized into the ESPB group and control group. Patients in the ESPB group received a bilateral ESPB, and patients in the control group were injected saline. Lornoxicam (0.08 mg/mL, 100 mL) was used as routine analgesia for both groups after the surgery. Visual analog scale (VAS) score at rest state at 12 h postoperative was the primary outcome and divided into no pain, mild pain, moderate pain, and severe pain.

Finally, 197 patients were included for analysis. At postoperative 12 h, ESPB group observed less patients with moderate pain (0% vs. 8.91%) and severe pain (0% vs. 0.99%) than the control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, ESPB group found less dose of additional sufentanil (5.55 ± 1.37 μg vs. 10.67 ± 5.05 μg), less requirement for rescue analgesia (13.54% vs. 31.68%), earlier first time to leave bed (10 h vs. 18 h), and earlier first exhaust time (17.5 h vs. 25 h), less adverse reactions (5.21% vs. 17.82%), and higher satisfaction degree (78.13% vs. 31.68%) (all P < 0.05).

ESPB was followed by better postoperative analgesia and less opioid consumption.