Cardiothoracic & vascular anaesthesia
Comparisons in analgesic effects between ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and surgical intercostal nerve block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial
An erratum to this article was published (J Clin Anesth, Nov 2025 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Both anesthesiologist-administered ultrasound-guided ESPB and surgeon-administered VATS ICNB were effective analgesic techniques for patients undergoing VATS for tumor resection.
Study context
- Population
- ASA I–III patients scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
- Participants
- 100 patients
- Comparison
- Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) vs intercostal nerve block (ICNB)
- Primary endpoint
- Pain score (10-cm VAS at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h) and morphine consumption
- Follow-up
- 48 h after surgery
Methodological detailsdouble-blinded, two centres
- Double-blinded
- Two centres
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
- Postoperative VAS at 1 h, 24 h and 48 h comparable between groups; both groups low median scores (<4.0) at all time points (all p > 0.05)
- 48-h morphine consumption, median (range not specified): ESPB 3 (0-6) vs ICNB 0 (0-6) mg; statistically non-significant, p = 0.135
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | ESPB | ICNB | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of oral rescue analgesic | 0.4 ± 1.2 | 1.0 ± 1.8 | P = 0.059 |
QoR-15 scores and hospital LOS
- Similar in the two groups
Original publication
Comparisons in analgesic effects between ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and surgical intercostal nerve block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial. J Clin Anesth. Published 14 March 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →