Ultrasound-Guided Transverse Thoracic Muscle Plane Block for Awake Sternum Revision in a Post-COVID Patient

Abstract

After cardiac surgeries performed with sternotomy, neuraxial techniques, fascial plane blocks and intravenous analgesics are often used for both accelerating wound healing and early recovery of lung functions by providing effective postoperative analgesia. In this case report, we share a case of sternal revision performed with sedation and transversus thoracic muscle plane block (TTMPB) in an ASA III patient who required sternum revision after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery but had limited lung capacity due to previous COVID-19 pneumonia, considering that general anesthesia would be high-risk.