Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block for Analgesia in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block in managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Most patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery report pain in the postoperative period. Pain management remains a significant concern in patient management, as it affects surgical costs, postoperative mobility, length of hospital stay, patient satisfaction, and surgical outcomes. Multimodal analgesia is recommended for the management of postoperative pain. Regional analgesia is an important component of multimodal analgesia.

The serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block is a novel regional analgesia technique described in 2023. SPSIP has been reported to provide near-complete sensory blockade in the posterior neck, shoulder, and hemithorax regions.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of SPSIP block in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II-III
• Scheduled for elective shoulder arthroscopy surgery
• Surgery performed under general anesthesia
• Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications
• Presence of bleeding diathesis or coagulation disorders
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics or opioid medications
• Infection or history of previous surgery at the planned block site
• Alcohol or drug dependence
• Cognitive impairment preventing reliable pain assessment using the NRS
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Diabetes mellitus
• Renal or hepatic impairment