Efficacy of Ultrasound-guided External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block Versus Port-site Local Anesthetic Infiltration for Postoperative Analgesia and Pulmonary Function After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Overview

Obesity poses severe global health risks and induces complex cardiorespiratory alterations, making perioperative care critical. For patients with morbid obesity, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) is the most effective long-term treatment. However, despite being minimally invasive, LSG causes significant early postoperative pain from trocar insertion, pneumo-peritoneum, and visceral trauma. Uncontrolled pain can lead to impaired respiratory function, delayed recovery, and increased opioid-related side effects. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols emphasize opioid-sparing multimodal analgesia. While local port-site infiltration is inexpensive and simple, its effects are localized and short-lived, often requiring supplemental opioids. In contrast, the ultrasound-guided External Oblique Intercostal (EOI) block targets the fascial plane between the external oblique and intercostal muscles (T6-T10). It provides superficial, easily identifiable landmarks in obese patients and delivers widespread sensory blockade across the upper anterior abdominal wall. To evaluate superior pain management strategies, a prospective, randomized, controlled study compares the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided bilateral EOI block versus conventional port-site local anesthetic infiltration in patients undergoing elective LSG. Key Study Metrics (First 24 Postoperative Hours) Primary Outcomes: Total postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores. Secondary Outcomes: Time to first rescue analgesia, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), overall patient satisfaction, and recovery metrics. Ultimately, demonstrating the superior efficacy of the EOI block over port-site infiltration may refine perioperative analgesic protocols, reduce opioid dependence, and improve recovery outcomes in bariatric surgery.