Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for postoperative pain management: A meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
João Pedro Fernandes Gonçalves, Manuela Lopes Duran, Eduardo Silva Reis Barreto, César Romero Antunes Júnior, Luiz Gustavo Albuquerque, Liliane Elze Falcão Lins-Kusterer PhD, Liana Maria Torres de Araujo Azi MD, PhD, Durval Campos Kraychete MD, PhD
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Postoperative pain remains a major problem across a wide range of surgical procedures. The efficacy and clinical utility of the Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) in reducing postoperative pain remains uncertain.
Objective
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ESPB compared with placebo or sham block in perioperative pain management.
Evidence review
We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ESPB to placebo or sham block in surgical patients. Primary outcomes included postoperative pain at 2 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h, intraoperative and cumulative postoperative opioid consumption (24 h), and postoperative nausea and vomiting, pruritus, and block-related adverse events. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses, as well as meta-regressions, were performed to explore sources of heterogeneity. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to assess the quantitative robustness of the available data. This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD42024583633.
Findings
Forty-three RCTs were included, with 1361 patients randomized to the Erector Spinae Plane Block group. ESPB reduced postoperative pain at 2 h (MD −1.46;95 % CI −1.98 to −0.94;p < 0.001;I2 = 91 %), 6 h (MD −1.23;95 % CI −1.64 to −0.83;p < 0.001;I2 = 89 %), 24 h (MD −0.47;95 % CI −0.67 to −0.28;p < 0.001;I2 = 78 %), and 48 h (MD −0.24;95 % CI −0.39 to −0.09;p = 0.002;I2 = 10 %). Also, intraoperative opioid consumption (MD -137.43 μg;95 % CI −208.73 to −66.13;p < 0.001;I2 = 100 %), 24 h cumulative opioid consumption (MD −25.62 mg;95 % CI −31.31 to −19.93;p < 0.001;I2 = 99 %), and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR 0.56;95 % CI 0.44 to 0.72;p < 0.001;I2 = 16 %) were significantly lower in patients submitted to ESPB. No significant differences were found in postoperative pruritus (RR 0.62;95 % CI 0.35 to 1.10;p = 0.105;I2 = 27 %). Notably, no block-related adverse events were reported in any study. Certainty of evidence was rated as low to moderate for most outcomes. TSA suggested that no further trials are needed to assess ESPB efficacy in the analyzed outcomes, except for postoperative pruritus.
Conclusion
ESPB is a safe and effective regional anesthesia technique that significantly reduces postoperative pain and opioid consumption across various surgical procedures.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (JCA) addresses all aspects of anesthesia practice, including anesthetic administration, pharmacokinetics, preoperative and postoperative considerations, coexisting disease and other complicating factors, cost issues, and similar concerns anesthesiologists contend with daily. Exceptionally high standards of presentation and accuracy are maintained.
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