Erector Spinae Plane Block for Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive surgery that utilizes camera based scopes and specialized instruments through keyhole sized ports to remove lesions in the thoracic cavity. Despite reduced surgical trauma compared to the traditional thoracotomy approach, patients continued to experience moderate to severe postoperative pain. Pain medication such as opioids is commonly utilized for postoperative pain control but is associated with side effects. The use of nerve blocks, such as the recently described erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been shown in case reports to reduce pain and thus has the potential to improve patient recovery and decrease the risk of pulmonary complication. This study aims to investigate the analgesic effect of ESPB in managing pain following VATS.