Cardiothoracic & vascular anaesthesia
Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Versus Superficial Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block With Local Infiltration for Postoperative Analgesia in Open Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors' conclusion
Compared with PSIPB plus drain-site infiltration-an active comparator targeting both the sternal and drain regions-SPSIPB reduced opioid consumption and improved quality of recovery
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing elective open cardiac surgery via median sternotomy33 and 31 analysed
- Participants
- 76 adults
- Comparison
- Bilateral serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) vs bilateral parasternal intercostal plane block (PSIPB) plus local anesthetic infiltration at mediastinal and pleural chest drain sites
- Primary endpoint
- Cumulative opioid consumption (MME)
- Follow-up
- 24 hours
Methodological detailsprospective, blinded outcome assessment, single-centre, active comparator
- Prospective
- Blinded outcome assessment
- Single-centre
- Active comparator
Primary result
Cumulative 24-hour opioid consumption
Mean difference
20.1 mg of MME
95% CI 11.7–28.5
P < 0.001
By group
SPSIPB vs PSIPB + infiltration
mean difference 20.1 mg of MME (95% CI 11.7–28.5); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | SPSIPB | PSIPB + infiltration | Median difference (points) (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QoR-15 · 24 hours | 119 (interval 112–126) | 108 (interval 105–111.5) | 10 (6–15) | P < 0.001 | |
| −1001020Difference, points (linear scale) |
- QoR-15: exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 6 points
Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores at rest and on coughing
- Comparable during first postoperative hour; lower with SPSIPB from 2 hours onward during coughing and at 4, 8, and 24 hours at rest
- all p ≤ 0.019
Safety
Adverse events, including PONV
- Did not differ between the groups
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Versus Superficial Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block With Local Infiltration for Postoperative Analgesia in Open Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 21 September 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →