Analgesic Efficacy of the Erector Spinae Plane Block Using Bupivacaine Versus Bupivacaine/Magnesium Sulphate in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery

Introduction: Severe postoperative pain following spine surgery is a significant cause of morbidity, extended length of facility stay, and marked opioid usage The analgesic regime for postoperative pain usually includes paracetamol,NSAIDs and opioids. The opioid epidemic as well as the opioid side effects2 (sedation,respiratory depression, constipation, delayed patient mobilization) has led perioperative physicians to find a way of decreasing the use of opioids. Increasing the use of regional anesthesia is one of the measures to this end. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESP) is a-- popular, interfascial regional technique that was initially described for the management of thoracic neuropathic pain . As the erector spinae fascia extends from the nuchal fascia cranially to the sacrum caudally, local anesthetic agents extend through several levels, and the block can be effective over a large area The ESP block provides effective postoperative analgesic effect for 24 hours in patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery Magnesium sulfate (MGS) is a noncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl, D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors with an analgesic effect and is essential for release of acetylcholine from the presynaptic terminals and, similar to calcium channel blockers (CCB), can prevent the entry of calcium into the cell It is suggested that magnesium has many important roles to play in nociception