INTERFASCIAL PLANE BLOCKS IN OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY

INTRODUCTION: Interfascial plane blocks (IPB) are truncal blocks with local anesthetic injected into space between two muscle layers. IPBs are easy to learn, simple to perform, provide satisfactory analgesia up to 24 hours, having a minimal risk of complications. METHODS: We present a retrospective analysis of the patients who had IPB as a part of postoperative pain management plan following either CD or hysterectomy in Leskovac General Hospital, Serbia during the period April 2017 – February 2022. RESULTS: We had 131 patients who had IPB perioperatively. Bilateral QLB type 1 was performed in 53 patients after CD and in 68 patients after hysterectomy. Bilateral ESPB T10-11 was done following one CD case and in 9 patients before hysterectomy. Patients had both acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for postoperative pain control. Decreased usage of fentanyl and sevoflurane was noticed in the cases where IPB was performed preoperatively. Almost all patients had well-controlled pain, and were very satisfied with pain score of 0-4/10 at numeric rating scale during 24 hours after surgery, with no opioid use. There were no complications regarding block performance. CONCLUSION: QLB and ESPB have great potential to improve and facilitate postoperative pain management in obstetric and gynecologic surgery.