Continuous Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block for Postoperative Analgesia after Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery

THERE IS an increasing trend toward the use of minimally invasive approaches in cardiac surgery.1 Many of these utilize a thoracotomy incision, which is associated with significant acute2,3 and chronic pain.4 Regional anesthesia is commonly advocated as part of a multimodal analgesic strategy, but the first-line options of thoracic epidural analgesia and thoracic paravertebral block2 are not usually feasible in cardiac surgery, where perioperative anticoagulation and hemodynamic instability are commonplace.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - January 11, 2018 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Felipe Mu ñoz Leyva, Wilman E. Mendiola, Antonio J. Bonilla, Javier Cubillos, Diego A. Moreno, Ki Jinn Chin Tags: Case Report Source Type: research