Clinical Outcomes of Erector Spinae Plane Block for Midline Sternotomy in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesEvaluate the benefit of single-shot erector spinae plane block (ESPB) on pain at postoperative hours four and 12, duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, cumulative postoperative opioid usage, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after cardiac surgery via sternotomy DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective clinical trials. SettingStudies were identified through the search of PubMed and EMBASE on July 19, 2023. ParticipantsAdults and children undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy. InterventionsSingle-shot erector spinae plane block versus standard-of-care analgesia. Measurements and Main ResultsSystematic review and meta-analysis of 10 studies (N = 695 patients). The single-shot ESPB arm exhibited a statistically significant reduction in: pain score at postoperative hour four (standardized mean difference (SMD) -2.95, 95% CI -5.86 to -0.04, p = 0.0466), duration of mechanical ventilation (SMD -1.23, 95% CI -2.21 to -0.24, p = 0.0145), cumulative postoperative opioid usage (SMD -1.48, 95% CI -2.46 to -0.49, p = 0.0033), and PONV incidence (risk ratio 0.4358, 95% CI 0.2105 to 0.9021, p = 0.0252). The single-shot ESPB arm did not exhibit a statistically significant reduction in pain score at postoperative hour 12, length of hospital stay, and length of ICU stay. ConclusionsSingle-shot ESPB improves near-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy. More RCTs are needed to validate these findings.