External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block Versus Port-Site Infiltration for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Pain Management
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Postoperative pain is a significant concern following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).
• Multimodal analgesia strategies are crucial for effective pain management in LSG patients.
• The external oblique intercostal (EOI) block is a novel technique for upper abdominal surgery analgesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the external oblique intercostal (EOI) block for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing LSG.
• To compare the EOI block with port-site infiltration (PSI) for analgesia after LSG.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving sixty patients undergoing LSG.
• Patients were divided into two groups: EOI block (ultrasound-guided 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine) and PSI (5 ml 0.25% bupivacaine at port sites).
• Pain scores (VAS) and fentanyl consumption were assessed postoperatively.

Main Results:

• The EOI block group showed significantly lower VAS scores at rest and during movement compared to the PSI group.
• Twenty-four-hour fentanyl consumption was substantially lower in the EOI group (505.83 ± 178.56 μg) versus the PSI group (880.83 ± 256.78 μg).
• Fewer patients in the EOI group required rescue analgesia (14/30) compared to the PSI group (26/30).

Conclusions:

• The external oblique intercostal (EOI) block is a simple and effective component of multimodal analgesia for LSG.
• EOI block offers superior postoperative pain management compared to port-site infiltration.
• This technique can enhance patient recovery after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.