Erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia following percutaneous nephrolithotomy under spinal anaesthesia- A randomised controlled study

Background and Aims: Postoperative pain is a multitude of various irksome sensory, emotional and mental experiences aggravated by surgical trauma and associated with autonomic, endocrine, metabolic, physiological and behavioural responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in postoperative analgesia following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: This prospective randomised study was conducted on sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II patients scheduled for PCNL under spinal anaesthesia. They were randomised into two equal groups of thirty patients. ESPB was given in group A with 20 ml of injection bupivacaine 0.25% and dexamethasone 8 mg and group B received injection tramadol 1.5 mg/kg intravenously immediately after PCNL. The primary outcome was comparison of visual analogue scale (VAS) score in the first 24 h postoperatively, whereas secondary objectives included hemodynamic variables and requirement of rescue analgesia. Results: VAS score in group A (ESPB) with mean of 3.15 ± 0.68 was comparatively low when compared to group B with mean of 6.61 ± 0.50 at 6 hours. After 4 h postoperatively, VAS scores continued to be higher and significant number of patients required rescue analgesia in group B. Conclusion: ESPB reduced VAS score, provided adequate postoperative analgesia, with similar haemodynamic changes and adverse effects in comparison to the conventional analgesia with tramadol in PCNL.