Background: The surgeries with upper abdominal wall incisions cause a severe pain and providing an adequate analgesia is an important challenge for the anesthesiologist. The serratus intercostal plane block (SIPB) has been already described as analgesic technique in open cholecystectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate its analgesic efficacy in pain control, opioids consumption and recovery quality in upper abdominal surgeries. Methods: This blind, randomized controlled study was conducted on 102 patients undergoing open upper abdominal wall surgery under general anesthesia. All patients who received serratus intercostal plane block at the eighth rib as analgesic technique were included in group 0 (SIPB) and in Group 1 (control) those who received continuous intravenous morphine analgesia. In each group was evaluated pain scores in numeric verbal scale (NVS) and opioids consumption at 0,6,12,24 y 48h postoperative time. The quality of the postoperative recovery was evaluated with the modified Postoperative Quality of Recovery Score ( QoR-15 questionnaire) at 24h.
The scientific evidence always supports the employment of a multimodal analgesic strategy, especially in procedures that generate a severe postoperative pain2, as media laparotomy or subcostal incision. The purpose is to not retard the patients' recovery and to avoid complications. The thoracic epidural analgesia is still the reference analgesic technique in open abdominal surgery7, although it is not exempt of limitations and complications. That is why, since the introduction of thoracic and abdominal fascial blocks, they have been part of the analgesic strategy, being an alternative to considerer instead the epidural.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
105
The tissue damage induced by the surgery generates a nociceptive pain which is accompanied by inflammatory mechanism (somatic pain), visceral and neuropathic pain, and why the treatment must be adapted to each surgical procedure. As the innervation of the upper abdominal wall depends mainly on the last intercostal nerves, the block of these nerves should be considered a good analgesic strategy to avoid the somatic pain. The placement of the local anesthetic in the serratus intercostal plane at the eighth rib (serratus intercostal plane block, SIPB) in the middle axillary line, managed to block the lateral and anterior cutaneous branches of the last intercostal nerves (T7-11). The results were satisfactory in the postoperative pain control of the patients with open cholecystectomy.
The continuous (basal) dose
perfusion
María Teresa Fernandez
Valladolid, Castille and León, Spain
the local anesthetic in the serratus intercostal space at the eighth rib (SIPB)is an opioids sparing method in the perioperative time
In a questionnaire designed for the study the pain scores were registered as main outcome, using verbal numeric scale (VNS) from 0(no pain at all) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) both at rest and the dynamic component (cough, deep breath, movement, so on). They were scored at 0, 6,12, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively.
Time frame: 24 postoperative hours
analgesic rescue needed
intraoperative fentanyl and postoperative morphine
Time frame: 48 hours
quality of recovery: QoR-15 questionnaire
using the scale of surgical recovery modified Postoperative Quality of Recovery Score (The QoR-15:15 answers) that the patients filled in at 24 hours postoperatively. The QoR-15 questionnaire collected 9 parameters that valued the physical well-being (pain 2 items, Physical Comfort 4 Physical Independence 2) and 6 that valued the mental well-being (Psychological support 2, Emotional state 4). Each scored on an 11 point numerical rating (0-10)
Time frame: 24 hours
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