Evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of erector spinae plane block during coronary artery bypass surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

The search for a method of perioperative pain control after coronary bypass surgery is relevant both from the point of view of safety and effectiveness of the methods used.Aim: To evaluate the hemodynamic changes and effectiveness of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) for off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.Methodology and research methods. The prospective randomized single-center study included 45 patients equally distributed according to the applied methods of perioperative analgesia into 3 groups: general anesthesia with epidural anesthesia (GA + EA group, n = 15), general anesthesia with ESPB (GA + ESPB group, n = 15) and general anesthesia without any regional anesthesia techniques (GA group, n = 15). Assessment of hemodynamics and severity of pain syndrome was performed during the first postoperative day.Results. The intraoperative dose of fentanyl was 0.4 (0.4–0.5) mg in the GA + EA group, and 0.4 (0.3–0.4) mg in the GA + ESPB group that is significantly less than in the GA group – 1.1 (1.0–1.1) mg (p < 0.001). Postoperatively, the dose of fentanyl was 0.10±0.04 mg in the GA + EA group and 0.23±0.05 mg in the GA group (p < 0.001), whereas in the ESPB group fentanyl was not used. The pain level assessed by the numeric rating scale (NRS) was 3.0 (2.0–4.0) points at one hour after tracheal extubation and 3.0 (0.5–3.5) points at the end of the first day of the postoperative period without difference between the groups. The systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics, respiratory and vasopressor support did not differ as well.Conclusion. The use of regional anesthesia (EA and ESPB) provides similar quality of perioperative analgesia like general anesthesia, but leads to reduction in opioid doses. Postoperatively, the use of ESPB does not lead to a deterioration of the hemodynamic status of the patient.