Comparison Of Ultrasound-Guided Single Vs Bi-Level Erector Spinae Plane Block For Postoperative Pain In Benign Thoracotomy Operations

Aim: Chronic postoperative pain may develop in more than half of patients after thoracotomy. Studies have shown that the Erector Spinae Plane Block is both an effective and safe analgesia method for thoracotomy. This study aims to investigate the effect of 10 ml 0.5% bupivacaine on postoperative pain in two doses divided from T4-T6 level with a single dose of 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine from T5 level.Material and Method: Sixty-three patients aged 20-55 years who underwent thoracotomy were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as single-level (Group S, n: 32) and bi-level (Group B, n: 31). Pain scores, intraoperative remifentanil, and postoperative 24-hour morphine consumption were recorded at postoperative hours 1, 6, 12, and 24.Results: Postoperative visual analog pain scores were significantly lower (p<0.001) at 1, 6, and 12 hours in single-level block patients. There was a significant decrease in intraoperative remifentanil consumption and postoperative 24-hour morphine consumption in the single-level block group (p<0.001).Discussion: It was concluded that 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine with a single injection provided lower pain scores and decreased the need for additional morphine during the postoperative 24 hours.