Benefits of Using Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Medical Thoracoscopy: A Retrospective Analysis

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a minimally invasive procedure for pleural disorders.
• It typically uses monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and local anesthesia (LA).
• Limited data exists on the use and analgesic effects of peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) for MT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the analgesic benefits and impact of PNB on MT procedures.
• To compare outcomes between patients receiving PNB with MAC versus MAC alone.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of MT patients from January 2021 to September 2023.
• Comparison of procedural times, intraoperative, and postoperative opioid consumption.
• Groups analyzed: PNB with MAC versus MAC alone.

Main Results:

• 23.6% of patients received a PNB (erector spinae plane block or serratus anterior plane block).
• PNB with MAC showed reduced procedure time (34 vs. 40 min) and intraoperative opioid use (3.0 vs. 6.0 MME).
• No significant difference in postoperative opioid consumption in the PACU was observed.

Conclusions:

• Adding PNB (SAPB or ESPB) to MAC for MT appears safe.
• PNB may reduce procedural time and intraoperative opioid requirements.
• Larger randomized trials are needed to validate these findings.