Comparison of deep and combined serratus anterior plane block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; a prospective randomized trial

Aim: Ultrasound-guided plane blocks have been employed frequently in Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of deep and combined serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) after VATS.Material and Method: The patients, in the age range of 18 to 65 years, with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of I-III, and body mass index (BMI) of 18-30 kg/m2, and undergoing lung resection with VATS were included in the study. Patients were informed about the study, and their written consent was obtained. Patients were divided into Deep SAPB (DSAPB) (Group 1) and combined SAPB (CSAPB) (Group 2) groups according to the analgesia protocol.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and surgical features (p>0.05). When the groups were evaluated in terms of the block performance time, it was found to be statistically significantly longer in the CSAPB group than in the DSAPB group (p<0.001). When the groups were evaluated in terms of VAS resting scores, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th, and 48th-hour VAS resting results were found to be statistically significantly higher in the DSAPB group than the CSAPB group (p<0.05). VAS cough scores were statistically significantly higher in the DSAPB group at the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th, and 48th-hour (p<0.05). When the groups were evaluated in terms of the side effects, additional analgesic use, and morphine consumption, they were found to be statistically significantly higher in the DSAPB group than in the CSAPB group (p: 0.026, p: 0.020, p<0.001, respectively).Conclusion: CSAPB provided effective analgesia after VATS for 48 hours. In addition, morphine consumption and the need for additional analgesics were low in CSAPB. However, the duration of the block procedure was longer in the CSAPB application.