The Effect of Preoperative Serratus Anterior Muscle Plane Block on Persistent Postsurgical Pain After Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: Acute pain intensity is a strong indicator for the occurrence of persistent postsurgical pain (PPP) after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The effect of preoperative serratus anterior muscle plane block (SAPB) on PPP was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data of 148 patients who underwent VATS for lung nodules in 2019 were collected. Seventy-four patients received a single-shot of SAPB with 0.33% ropivacaine 30 mL after anesthesia induction and another 74 patients received intercostal blocks using 1% ropivacaine 10 mL at the fifth to seventh intercostal spaces after surgery. Postoperative analgesia was accomplished by continuous infusion of flurbiprofen (8 mg/h), and intravenous oxycodone rescue (1 mg) given on demand. Pain intensity was recorded at 24 and 48 hours after surgery and all patients were followed up 3 months after surgery investigating the occurrence of PPP. Results: Intraoperative sufentanil in the SAPB group was significantly decreased in comparison with Control group (0.34±0.09 vs. 0.43±0.14 ug/kg, P
Source: The Clinical Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research