The Efficacy of Continuous Serratus Anterior and Erector Spinae Plane Blocks vs Intercostal Nerve Block in Uniportal-Vats Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Prospective Trial

Background: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of continuous erector spinae plane block(c-ESPB) and serratus anterior plane block(c-SAPB) versus the intercostal nerve block (ICNB) in Uniportal-VATS in terms of pain control, drug consumption, and complications. Methods: Ninety-three consecutive patients, undergone one of the three peripheral nerve blocks after Uniportal-VATS, were prospectively enrolled. A 1:1 propensity score matching was used to minimize bias. Results: C-ESPB and c-SAPB groups had no difference in morphine request upon awakening compared to ICNB. A higher VAS-score was recorded in c-ESPB compared to ICNB in the first 12 h after surgery. A significantly lower consumption of paracetamol in II postoperative day (p.o.d.) and tramadol in I and II p.o.d. was recorded in the c-ESPB group compared to the ICNB group. A higher dynamic VAS score was recorded at 24 h and 48 h in the ICNB group compared to the c-SAPB. No difference was found in safety, VAS-score and drug consumption between c-ESPB and c-SAPB at any given time, except for a higher tramadol request in c-SAPB in II p.o.d. Conclusions: C-ESPB and c-SAPB appear to have the same safety and analgesic efficacy when compared between them and to ICNB in Uniportal-VATS approach. C-ESPB showed a delayed onset of analgesic effect and a lower postoperative drug consumption compared to ICNB.