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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021; 69(06): 564-569
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1705152
Original Thoracic

Serratus Anterior Plane Block and Intercostal Nerve Block after Thoracoscopic Surgery

Saeyoung Kim
1   Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
,
Chae-Min Bae
2   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea
,
Young Woo Do
2   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea
,
Suyoung Moon
1   Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
,
Seung Ik Baek
1   Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
,
Deok Heon Lee
2   Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea
› Author Affiliations Funding Source No funding source.
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Abstract

Background This study aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic effect between ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (Group S, SAPB) and intercostal nerve block (Group I, ICNB) after single port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (S-VATS) in primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods In this prospective randomized controlled study, 54 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in Group S underwent the SAPB before the surgical drape by an anesthesiologist, and in Group I, ICNBs were performed just before the wound closure after S-VATS by an attending thoracic surgeon. The primary outcome was the numeric pain rating scale (NRS) score given by the patients for pain at the surgical incision site. NRS was assessed during resting and coughing statuses at 3, 6, and 12 hours postoperatively and at the time of the chest tube removal. The secondary outcomes included the number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid administration until time to chest tube removal.

Results There were no statistical differences between the two groups regarding age, body mass index, duration of operation, duration of anesthesia, and average NRS scores for the assigned time periods. There was no statistical significance in the number of opioid injections; however, NSAIDs were administered 2.8 times per patient in Group I, and 1.9 times per patient in Group S (p = 0.038).

Conclusion In the patients who underwent S-VATS with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, the SAPB provided similar postoperative pain relief with reducing the NSAIDs consumption compared with ICNB.

Keywords

pneumothorax - thoracoscopic/VATS - surgery/incisions


Publication History

Received: 18 December 2019

Accepted: 24 January 2020

Article published online:
29 March 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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