Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

This single-centre, prospective, randomised controlled trial investigates whether preoperative ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) reduces postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores in adults undergoing elective minimally invasive cardiac surgery through a right or left minithoracotomy. Patients are randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive SPSIPB with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine or no block. Both groups receive the same postoperative analgesic regimen, consisting of intravenous paracetamol 1 g every 8 h and intravenous tramadol patient-controlled analgesia. The primary outcome is cumulative tramadol consumption during the first 24 h after extubation. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, intraoperative remifentanil consumption and haemodynamic responses.