Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks with liposomal bupivacaine did not significantly reduce opioid use after cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial
Authors' conclusion
Preincision bilateral SPIP blocks with a mixture of bupivacaine and liposomal bupivacaine did not significantly reduce opioid consumption or improve postoperative analgesic outcomes compared with saline placebo in cardiac surgical patients.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing elective CABG or valve surgery via median sternotomy
- Participants
- 100 patients
- Comparison
- Superficial parasternal intercostal plane (SPIP) intervention vs Saline placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Total opioid consumption in oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME)
- Follow-up
- First 72 postoperative hours
Methodological detailsprospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled
- Prospective
- Double-blind
- Placebo-controlled
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
P = 0.30
Secondary outcomes
Pain scores, extubation time, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital LOS, opioid use at 90 days
- Similar between groups
Safety
- No serious adverse events reported
Original publication
Superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks with liposomal bupivacaine did not significantly reduce opioid use after cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. Published 24 August 2025. doi:10.
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