The Efficacy of Ultrasound Guided Bilateral Pectoralis Nerve Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Cardiac Surgery, Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Cardiothoracic surgeries are associated with significant pain. Optimal analgesia is a vital part of enhanced recovery after surgery strategies intended to improve patients' perioperative experience and outcomes. Traditionally, analgesia in these types of surgeries has depended on large doses of I.V. opioids. This is particularly pertinent given the current focus on removing needless perioperative opioid administration, and thereby decreasing the potential for opioid side effects. Aim of the Work The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of postoperative bilateral US guided Pecs block on postoperative pain control in patients undergoing cardiac surgery through mid-line sternotomy compared to systemic analgesia. Patients and Methods Approval was obtained from the research ethics committee of Faculty of Medicine; Ain Shams University and a written informed consent was taken from each patient to participate in the study, patients were randomly allocated into two groups with 15 patients in each group. Group 1 (control group) received systemic analgesics, whereas Group 2 (study group) received pecs block. Results Our study showed that when compared to general anesthesia with systemic opioids, PECs block is associated with significantly better postoperative pain control. Conclusion Pecs block is technically simple, safe and very effective technique and can be used as a part of multimodal analgesia in postoperative cardiac surgical patients for better patient comfort and satisfaction and also helps in superior pulmonary rehabilitation, thus assisting in better outcome and less unwanted side effects of systemic analgesics.