Ultrasound-guided erector spinae block versus mid-transverse process to pleura block for postoperative analgesia in lumbar spinal surgery

Background In recent years, promising results were achieved with the use of ultrasound (US)-guided interfascial plane blocks for effective postoperative analgesia in several surgeries. Erector spina plane (ESP) block and mid-transverse to pleura plane (MTP) block are the latest techniques in this area. The aim of this prospective and randomized study was to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of bilateral ESP and MTP blocks in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery under general anesthesia (GA). Methods A total of 120 adult patients were included in the study and randomized into 3 groups: group ESP ( n = 40), group MTP ( n = 40) and group Control ( n = 40). The patients in the group ESP received a bilateral block by injecting 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine at a vertebrae level in the mid-point of the incision before GA. The same LA was administrated bilaterally at the T12/L1 level in the group MTP. Postoperatively, a multimodal analgesic regimen including an intravenous tramadol patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), paracetamol and dexketoprofen was used in all groups. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during the first 48 postoperative hours. Pethidine was used as a rescue analgesic when VAS score was >3. Primary outcome measure was mean pain scores. Secondary outcome measures were consumption of rescue analgesic and the amount of tramadol delivered by PCA. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Mean VAS scores were significantly higher in the group Control than in the group MTP and group ESP at all-time points during 48 h (Control > MTP > ESP; p < 0.001). Mean VAS scores were lower in group ESP than group MTP in postoperative 12 h ( p < 0.001). Rescue analgesic consumption, number of bolus demand on PCA, PCA bolus demand dose, total PCA dose, and complications related to opioid consumption were highest in control group and lowest in ESP group (Control > MTP > ESP; p < 0.001). Conclusion Both ESP and MTP blocks provided effective pain relief after lumbar spinal surgery but the ESP block was superior to MTP block regarding postoperative analgesia in the first 24 h.