Study subjects underwent anaesthesia and VATS without a change in their routine care. At the end of the surgery, an erector spinae plane block was performed for acute pain control following our institutional protocol for perioperative care.

Unilateral ESP block was performed between T3 and T7 levels depending on the thoracic surgical incision. The patient is placed in lateral decubitus position, under sterile conditions, a high frequency (6-15 MHz) linear-array transducer (Sonosite® Edge II, Bothell, USA) was placed in a longitudinal parasagittal orientation 2 cm from the posterior midline to visualise the tips of the transverse processes deep to the erector spinae muscle (ESM). A 21 G, 50 mm or 100 mm needle (Pajunk UniPlex NanoLine; Germany) was advanced in-plane with the ultrasound beam. The needle tip was directed to the plane between the transverse process and the posterior fascia of the ESM. Correct needle tip location was confirmed by ultrasound visualisation of linear fluid spread in the fascial plane. The injection of 0.5 to 1 ml of bupivacaine was 0.5% with epinephrine 5 µg/ml; then, a total of 20-30 ml of the same local anaesthetic was administered.

incidence of CNP three months postoperatively (POP) in patients undergoing VATS surgery with ESPB as the regional anaesthesia technique

pain control at PACU, 12 and 24 hours POP

Quality of Life by EQ-5D