Comparison of the effects of one-level and bi-level pre-incisional erector spinae plane block on postoperative acute pain in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial

Background: This prospective, randomized, double-blind trial aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of One-Level pre-incisional erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and Bi-Level pre-incisional ESPB in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods: This pilot trial was conducted between April 2022 and February 2023 with sixty patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. In One-Level ESPB Group (n = 30) block was performed at the thoracal(T)5 level with the 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine. In the Bi-Level ESPB Group (n = 30) block was performed at T4 and T6 levels by using 15 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine for each level. In the postoperative period, 50 mg dexketoprofen every 12 h and 1 g paracetamol every 8 h were given intravenously (IV). Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) prepared with morphine was applied to the patients. 0.5 mg/kg of tramadol was administered via IV for rescue analgesia. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded in the postoperative 1st, 2nd, 4th, 12th, 24th, and 48th -hours. The need for additional analgesics and side effects were recorded. In two groups, patients’ demographics and postoperative hemodynamic data were recorded. Results: VAS scores at resting were statistically significantly higher at the 1st (p: 0.002) and 4th -hour (p: 0.001) in the One-Level ESPB. When the groups were evaluated in terms of VAS coughing scores, the 4th -hour (p: 0.001) VAS coughing scores results were found to be statistically significantly higher in the One-Level ESPB group. In terms of VAS values evaluated during follow-up, the rates of VAS coughing score > 3 values were found to be statistically significantly lower in the Bi-Level ESPB group (p: 0.011). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of side effects, morphine consumption, and additional analgesic use (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Adequate analgesia was achieved in the early postoperative period in the group treated with Bi-Level ESPB with similar morphine consumption and side effects. This may be an advantage, especially in the early postoperative period when the pain is quite intense.