Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block versus erector spinae plane block analgesia for cardiac surgery with median sternotomy: a noninferiority randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
ESPB did not demonstrate noninferiority to TPVB for early dynamic analgesia after median sternotomy.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing median sternotomy for planned cardiac surgeryenrolled
- Participants
- 74 adults
- Comparison
- Ultrasound-guided single-shot erector spinae plane block (ESPB) vs thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB)
- Primary endpoint
- Pain during forced expiration (NRS)
- Follow-up
- 6 h after surgery
Methodological detailsprospective, patient- and assessor-blinded, noninferiority
- Prospective
- Patient- and assessor-blinded
- Noninferiority
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
NRS pain during forced expiration · 6 h
ESPB
3.5
mean · SD 2.6
TPVB
3.0
mean · SD 2.1
95% CI −0.48 to 1.34
Secondary outcomes
Opioid consumption, numerical rating scale (NRS) pain at 24 and 48 h, ICU or hospital LOS
- Comparable between groups
Safety
Intraoperative hypertension
- More frequent with ESPB than TPVB
Serious block-related complications
- None observed
- 0
Original publication
Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block versus erector spinae plane block analgesia for cardiac surgery with median sternotomy: a noninferiority randomised controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. Published 24 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →