Comparative study between ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and thoracic paravertebral block for postoperative analgesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery: an equivalence study

Background It is advised to use a regional block to lower postoperative opioid usage. Therefore, we aimed to compare the analgesic effect of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) on the need for morphine following video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Results The findings revealed that TPVB and ESPB groups were equivalent in analgesic efficacy with postoperative morphine consumption in mg 15.2 ± 2.7 and 14.9 ± 2.4 respectively. statistically significant shorter block time in ESPB was 8.1 ± 1.7 min in contrast to 11.35 ± 1.7 min in TPVB and better patient satisfaction in the ESPB than in TPVB groups ( p value < 0.05). No statistically significant differences existed between the two groups in terms of postoperative pain score (VAS) at rest, cough at any time point, or incidence of complications ( p value > 0.05). There were significantly lower heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) trends in 15 and 30 min intraoperatively ( p value < 0.001) in the TPVB group. Conclusions ESPB has analgesic efficacy equivalent to TPVB from aspects of equivalent postoperative morphine consumption and VAS at rest and during cough with shorter block time and better patient satisfaction. Trial registration Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202109527452994. Registered on 8 September 2021.