RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A prospective double-blinded randomized control trial comparing erector spinae plane block to thoracic epidural analgesia for postoperative pain in video-assisted thoracic surgery JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 155 OP 163 DO 10.15537/smj.2023.44.2.20220644 VO 44 IS 2 A1 Hong, Jeong-Min A1 Kim, Eunsoo A1 Jeon, Soeun A1 Lee, Dowon A1 Baik, Jiseok A1 Cho, Ah-Reum A1 Cho, Jeong Su A1 Ahn, Hyo Yeong YR 2023 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/44/2/155.abstract AB Objectives: To compare the analgesic efficacies of erector spinae plane (ESP) block and thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).Methods: Sixty patients undergoing VATS received patient-controlled TEA with a basal rate of 3 ml/hour (h), a bolus of 3 ml (Group E), or ESP block with programmed intermittent bolus infusions of 15 mL/3 h and a bolus of 5 ml (Group ES) for 2 postoperative days. The primary outcome was to compare pain scores at rest 24 h postoperatively between the 2 groups. Secondary outcomes included NRS score for 48 h, procedural time, dermatomal spread, use of rescue medication, adverse events, and patient satisfaction.Results: Patients with continuous ESP block had a higher NRS score than those with TEA but no statistical difference at a specific time. The dermatomal spread was more extensive in the TEA group than in the ESP block group (p=0.016); cumulative morphine consumption was higher in the ESP block group (p=0.047). The incidence of overall adverse events in the TEA group was higher than in the ESP block group (p=0.045).Conclusion: Erector spinae plane block may be inferior to TEA for analgesia following VATS, but it could have tolerable analgesia and a better side effect profile than TEA. Therefore, it could be an alternative to TEA as a component of multimodal analgesia.