The Efficacy of SPSIPB on Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Consumption in Patients Undergoing VATS

The Efficacy of Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block (SPSIPB) on Postoperative Pain and Total Analgesic Consumption in Patients Undergoing Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

The aim of this study is to investigate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of SPSIPB and its effect on opioid consumption in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

There were two randomized groups: Group S (SPSIPB) (n=12), Group C (no block) (n=12). All patients had standard general anesthesia. Group S had serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) with 0.25% bupivacaine (total volume of 30 ml) at the end of the surgery. Group Control had only tramadol for postoperative pain. Numerical rating scale (NRS) was used to assess postoperative pain on 1st, 6th, 12th and 24th hour after the surgery. Total tramadol consumption was calculated using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients older than 18 years of age who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anesthesia and were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II-III according to the ASA risk classification.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who did not give consent,
• patients with coagulopathy,
• patients with signs of infection at the block application site,
• patients using anticoagulants,
• patients with local anesthetic drug allergies,
• patients undergoing open surgery,
• patients with unstable hemodynamics,
• patients who could not cooperate during postoperative pain assessment