Efficacy of Ipsilateral High Thoracic Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block in Thoracic Cancer Surgeries

Under full aseptic conditions while the patient is in setting position, skin infiltration will be done with 2 ml of 1% lidocaine an 18-G Tuohy needle with a 20-G catheter (Perifix, B.Braun, Germany) will be inserted through the T6-T7 interspace, and the epidural space located using the loss of resistance technique. The catheter then advanced approximately 3 cm cephalic. A test dose of 3 ml of 1% lidocaine containing epinephrine in a ratio of 1:200,000 administered to detect unintentional intrathecal . After negative response, 15 ml of 0.25% epidural bupivacine will be injected and the patient will be turned to the supine position.

Thoracic Epidural Analgesia will be done at first. Then, the ultrasound probe will be placed longitudinally 2-3 cm lateral to the T2 spinous process in the sagittal line. The T2 spinous process will be identified by counting down anatomically from the vertebral prominens (C7), and the T2 transverse process will be visualized by counting down from the first rib via real-time ultrasound guidance. The erector spinae muscle will be visualized above the T2 transverse process. The needle will be inserted in a caudal cranial direction using the in-plane technique. A dose of 5 mL normal saline will be injected into the inter-fascial area between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process for the correction of the injection site (hydro-dissection). After hydro-dissection, 15 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected here, and the linear spread of the solution will be visualized in the inter-fascial plane.