Analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block versus transversus abdominis plane block in laparotomies for cancer surgeries: A randomized blinded control study

Background: Pain has a wide spectrum of effects on the body and inadequate management of postoperative pain outcomes in multiple physiological and psychological consequences; and increases morbidity. The use of opioid-based analgesia in high doses can have multiple adverse effects including respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting. Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of analgesic and safety of both techniques (transversus abdominis plane block [TAPB] and erector spinae plane block [ESPB]) in cases having lower abdominal surgery through laparotomy. Materials and Methods: This randomized trial was performed on 62 cases who underwent laparotomy for lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were recruited. Subjects were equally distributed into either TAPB or ESPB. The primary outcome was total morphine intake postoperatively for 24 h. Other variables were intraoperative fentanyl consumption, delay to first morphine demand, and intraoperative morphine consumption, the number of patients who needed rescue analgesia by morphine, perioperative heart rate and mean blood pressure, numerical rating score (NRS), postoperative nausea and vomiting, and block-related complications. Results: ESPB patients consumed less total postoperative morphine than the TAPB group (5.35 ± 2.65 vs. 8.52 ± 3.35 mg; P < 0.001). Patients who received ESPB showed less postoperative pain scores and, thus, needed rescue medication after a longer period than the TAPB group (12.50 ± 7.31 h vs. 7.72 ± 5.69 h; P = 0.008). In addition, ESPB patients needed less intraoperative fentanyl doses than TAPB (138.71 ± 35.85 vs. 203.23 ± 34.00 mcg; P < 0.001). ESPB group demonstrated statistically significant lower scores of NRS at rest and at movement. Conclusions: Ultrasound (US)-guided ESPB provides more safe and effective analgesia in lower abdominal surgeries compared with US-guided TAPB.