Effect of Addition of Dexmedetomidine During Ultrasound Guided Bilateral Single Shot Erector Spinae Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Under General Anesthesia

Effect of Addition of Dexmedetomidine During Ultrasound Guided Bilateral Single Shot Erector Spinae Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Under General Anesthesia

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is the management of choice in double level lumbar (L) spondylolisthesis (L3-L5) after ineffective conservative treatment. We evaluated bilateral ultrasound (US)-guided single shot erector spinae plane (ESP) block at the level of lumbar 3 (L3) vertebra with or without dexmedetomidine (Dex).

Objectives: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is the management of choice in double level lumbar (L) spondylolisthesis (L3-L5) after ineffective conservative treatment. We evaluated bilateral ultrasound (US)-guided single shot erector spinae plane (ESP) block at the level of lumbar 3 (L3) vertebra with or without dexmedetomidine (Dex).

Methods: A prospective controlled randomized, double-blind study comparing two groups of patients; each group included 20 patients of double level spondylolisthesis (L3-L5) scheduled for (PLIF) under general anesthesia combined with bilateral US-guided ESP single shot block at (L3). Group I received 20 ml of 0. 25% bupivacaine plus one mL normal saline bilaterally. Group II received 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with supplementation of 1 mL containing 100µg dexmedetomidine bilaterally. Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) length of stay, the total dose of postoperative analgesics need, postoperative visual analogue score (VAS) at 1h, 6h, 12h, and 24 h after the operation and postoperative complications which related to block or opioids were recorded.

ESP block at combined with (Dex) is a safe, effective block with no complications. Addition of 100µg Dex to preoperative ESP block provided good postoperative opioid-sparing analgesia, facilitated the early emergence and shortened the length of stay in the PACU during (PLIF) for double level spondylolisthesis (L3-L5).

Inclusion Criteria:

• belonged to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II
• either sex
• aged 18-60 years
• body mass index less 35 kg/m2
• complaining from double level lumbar spondylolisthesis (L3-L5)
• scheduled for elective surgical intervention aimed at lumbar spine fixation by PLIF - under general anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• obesity (body mass index > 35 kg/m2)
• infection of the skin at the site of the needle puncture
• allergies to either of the study drugs
• bleeding disorder
• and recent use of opioid.