Effects of TTPB vs PIFB on Opioid Consumption in Patients After Cardiac Surgery.

Comparison of Effects of Transversus Thoracic Muscle Plane Block vs Pecto-intercostal Fascial Block on Postoperative Opioid Consumption in Patients Undergoing Open Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of TTPB vs PIFB on postoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery.

Cardiac surgery performed through median sternotomy is associated with significant postoperative pain.Poststernotomy pain leads to decreased patient satisfaction, delirium, cardiovascular complications (hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias), hyperglycemia and respiratory complications (bronchial secretion stasis, atelectasis and pneumonia).High-dose opioids can provide good postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing heart surgery. However, opioids have some side effects.The advent of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia led to the development of fascial plane chest wall block as transthoracic plane block and pectointercostal fascial block.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age between 18 and 75 years.
2. Patient scheduled to undergo elective on-pump cardiac surgery with sternotomy.
3. American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of physical status < IV.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Emergency surgery.
2. Off-pump surgery.
3. Redo surgery.
4. Ejection fraction less than 35%.
5. Refusal of the patient.
6. Known hypersensitivity to LA.
7. Chronic opioid use or chronic pain patient.
8. Psychiatric problems or communication difficulties.
9. Liver insufficiency (defined as a serum bilirubin ≥ 34 μmol/l, albumin ≤ 35 g/dl, INR ≥ 1.7)
10. Renal insufficiency (defined as a glomerular filtration rate < 44 ml/min).
11. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
12. Coexisting hematologic disorders.
13. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.