Serratus anterior plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND The serratus anterior plane block (SAPb) is a promising interfascial plane technique able to provide profound thoracic analgesia. As only a few studies with quite small patient samples are presently available, the analgesic efficacy of adding SAPb to general anaesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), compared with general anaesthesia only, remains unclear. OBJECTIVES Our primary aim was to assess the analgesic efficacy of SAPb for VATS peri-operative pain control. The secondary aims were to evaluate differences in postoperative opioid use, intra-operative hypotension, postoperative side-effects and complications, time to chest tube removal, length of hospital stay. DESIGN Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library, searched up to 6 December 2019. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA RCTs including adult patients undergoing VATS who received single shot SAPb (cases), compared with general anaesthesia (controls). RESULTS Seven RCTs, with a total of 489 patients were included. SAPb reduced pain scores peri-operatively, compared with controls: 6 h [mean difference −1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) −2.35 to −1.37, P 
Source: European Journal of Anaesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Regional anaesthesia Source Type: research