Effectiveness of Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block

Following skin sterilization and local anesthetic infiltration of the superficial tissues, an echogenic 22-G block needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact was made with the transverse process. Correct location of the needle tip in the fascial plane deep to erector spinae muscle is confirmed by injecting 0.5-1 ml saline and seeing the fluid lifting the erector spinae muscle off the transverse process while not distending the muscle. A total of 20ml bupivacaine 0.25% are then injected into the ESP. The procedure is repeated on the contralateral side.

After operation, patients will be transferred to post anesthesia care unit (PACU) for complete recovery and monitoring. The pain VAS scores between the studied groups will be registered every 4 hours for 24 hours postoperatively. A standard postoperative analgesia regimen will be prescribed as paracetamol 1gm every 6 hours and ketorolac 30mg every 8 hours in the first 24 hours postoperatively. Morphine 2.5 mg will be given as a rescue analgesic dose if visual analogue score was ≥ 3 or when patient suffering from pain between the assessment intervals in both groups not exceeding 0.1 mg/kg in a period of 6 hours. Metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg IV will be prescribed for patients complaining of nausea or vomiting.