A prospective randomized trial of evaluation of post-operative analgesia of erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing laparotomy

Abstract

The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) can be used to reduce pain and opioid requirements after abdominal surgery.The study was undertaken to assess post-operative analgesia of ESPB in patients undergoing laparotomy under general anaesthesia. A total 34 patients of either sex, age between 20-60 years, ASA status 1 and 2 undergoing exploratory laparotomy were included and equally randomised into two study groups of 17 each. Group A received ESPB with 0.25% inj. bupivacaine 20ml on each side (Total 40ml 0.25% inj. Bupivacaine) and group B with no intervention. The mean VAS Score was <4cm till 1½hr in both the groups. Henceforth, mean VAS sores were observed to be <1cm in all the patients of Group A till 24hr whereas VAS Scores were >4cm all intervals till 24hr in Group B. Thus, quality of analgesia was better in Group A. In Group B, 10 (58.82%) out of 17 patients required first dose of tramadol at 1½ hr as compared to none in Group A. At 24hr, all patients in Group B received tramadol as rescue analgesic compared to only 3 (17.64%) in Group A. The cumulative tramadol consumption was significantly low in Group A (5.88±13.71mg) than Group B (191.76±40.65mg). Complications like nausea, vomiting was more in Group B because of increased tramadol consumption.ESPB is a simple, easy, convenient option, when utilized as a component of multi-modal analgesia for pain relief in abdominal surgery.