Impact of Thoracic Epidural Versus Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block on Incidence of PTPS

Impact of Thoracic Epidural Infusion Versus Continuous Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block on Incidence of Post Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae plane block compared to Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block on the emergence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer.

Lung cancer has the highest incidence of all malignancies worldwide and accounts for approximately 13% of all cancer cases. Lung cancer is still the most common cause of cancer-related deaths, and lung resection surgeries could be the main therapeutic option. Hence, the number of thoracotomy procedures is progressively increasing as is the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain. In addition to amputation and mastectomy, thoracotomy is considered the main etiology of severe and long-term acute and chronic post-surgical pain syndromes (CPSPs). The prevalence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is widely variable (30%-50%) and may range from 11% to 80%, according to other studies.

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined post-thoracotomy pain syndrome as "pain that recurs or persists along the thoracotomy scar at least 2 months after the procedure". In addition, post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is mostly described with neuropathic manifestations along the thoracotomy scar and in the mammary, inframammary, ipsilateral scapular and interscapular areas.

The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a novel technique for thoracic analgesia that promises to be a relatively simple and safe alternative to more complex and invasive techniques of neural blockade.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age (18-65) Years
• Physical status American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification II, III
• Patients undergoing lobectomy through lateral thoracotomy
• Body mass index (BMI): (20-40) kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal.
• Age <18 years or >65 years
• Body mass index (BMI) <20 kg/m2 and >40 kg/m2
• Known sensitivity or contraindication to drugs used in the study
• Contraindication to regional anesthesia e.g. local infection at site of introduction, pre-existing peripheral neuropathies and coagulopathy.
• Pregnancy.
• Physical status American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification IV
• patients on chronic analgesic therapy (daily morphine ≥30 mg or equivalent dose of other opioids or tramadol or any medication for neuropathic pain)
• patients with a history of drug abuse
• patients with neuropsychiatric diseases; patients with a history of chronic pain syndromes that may enhance sensitivity to pain, for example, fibromyalgia
• patients with a history of thoracic surgery through lateral thoracotomy; and patients with recurrent chest malignancies within 3 months.
• All patients who developed severe intra- or post-operative bleeding or required postoperative mechanical ventilation were also excluded from the study.
• Thoracic spine disorders or deformity.