Serratus Posterior Superior Intekcostal Plane Block vs Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in VATS: A Randomized Trial"

Thoracotomy is known as one of the most painful surgical procedures, with up to 65% of patients developing chronic post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS), and approximately 10% experiencing pain that significantly impacts quality of life. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become increasingly common over the past decade and offers reduced postoperative pain, morbidity, and length of hospital stay compared to open thoracotomy. However, VATS can still cause moderate to severe postoperative pain and a high risk of chronic pain. Optimizing analgesia after VATS remains critical. With advances in ultrasound technology, several regional anesthesia techniques such as serratus anterior plane block (SAPB), erector spinae plane block (ESPB), and thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) have shown comparable efficacy. In 2023, Tulgar et al. described the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB), which demonstrated dermatomal coverage from C3 to T10. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of SPSIPB and SAPB in patients undergoing VATS procedures.