• Tian Wang, Xuedong Wang, Zhuoying Yu, and Min Li.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
• Clin J Pain. 2024 Feb 1; 40 (2): 9910499-104.

ObjectivePostoperative analgesia is crucial after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This study was designed to investigate whether the analgesic effect of programmed intermittent bolus (PIB) erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is noninferior to that of intercostal nerve block with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (ICNB-PCIA) for VATS.MethodsThe study was a single-center, open labeled, randomized noninferiority trial. A total of 80 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I to III) undergoing elective video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy or bulla resection were randomly allocated to the ICNB-PCIA (n=40) or the ESPB (n=40) group using a PIB injection. The primary outcome was pain intensity at movement at 4 hours postoperatively using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes included pain scores at rest and movement in the recovery room, at 8, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively, perioperative analgesics, adverse effects, hospital stay, and patient satisfaction.ResultsThe mean difference in NRS scores at movement at 4 hours postoperatively between the ESPB (n=39) and the ICNB-PCIA (n=37) groups was under the noninferiority margin. NRS scores were significantly higher in the ICNB-PCIA group than the ESPB group at movement postoperatively. At rest, NRS scores were significantly elevated in the ICNB-PCIA at 4, 8, and 24 hours. The postoperative opioids consumption was decreased in the ESPB group. No difference was found in rescue analgesics, hospital stay, and patient satisfaction.DiscussionESPB using a PIB injection offers noninferior analgesia to ICNB-PCIA after VATS.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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