Abstract
Background: Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) has been increasingly applied in patients for postoperative analgesia. Its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the clinical safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided ESPB in adults undergoing general anesthesia (GA) surgeries.Methods: A systematic databases search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESPB with control or placebo. Primary outcome was iv. opioid consumption 24 h after surgery. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) or risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random-effects model. Results: A total of 11 RCTs consisting of 540 patients were included. Ultrasound -guided ESPB showed a reduction of iv. opioid consumption 24 h after surgery (SMD=-2.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.76 to -1.5,p<0.00001), pain scores at 1st hour (SMD=-0.97;95% CI -1.84 to -0.1,p=0.03) and pain scores at 6th hour (SMD=-0.64,95% CI -1.05 to -0.23,p=0.002), Also, it lessened the number of patients who required postoperative analgesia ( RR=0.41,95% CI 0.25 to 0.66,p=0,0002) and time to first rescue analgesia (SMD=4.56,95% CI 1.89 to 7.22, p=0.0008). Differences were not significant with the pain score at 12th hour,24th hour and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided ESPB provides postoperative analgesic efficacy in adults undergoing GA surgeries with no increase in PONV.
Erector spinae plane block versus transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in adult patients underwent abdominal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis
