Evaluation of ultrasound-guided bilateral low thoracic erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in cesarean delivery patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a recently described block. In many reports, ESPB has been reported to provide effective postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cesarean delivery (CD). Herein, we compared the effectiveness of ESPB and control group in postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing CD under spinal anesthesia. METHODS: This assessor-blinded, prospective, randomized, efficiency study was conducted in the postoperative recovery room and ward at a tertiary university hospital. Eighty-six patients ASA II–III were recruited. Following exclusion, 80 patients were randomized into two equal groups (block and control group). Standard multimodal analgesia was performed in the control group while ESPB block was performed in the intervention (ESPB) group. Opioid consumption was measured and pain intensity between groups was compared using Numeric Rating Scores (NRS). RESULTS: NRS was lower in Group ESPB at 3rd and 6th hours. There was no difference between NRS scores at other hours. Opioid consumption was lower in Group ESPB. CONCLUSION: When added to multimodal analgesia, bilateral ultrasound guided low thoracic ESPB leads to improve the quality of analgesia in the first 24 hours in patients undergoing CD.