Erector spinae plane block in various abdominal surgeries: A case series

Abstract

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a regional anesthesia technique, which provides visceral and somatic analgesia for abdominal surgery; during surgery and in the postoperative period. The local anesthetic is injected between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process and it spreads cranially and caudally into the paravertebral space, affecting the ventral and dorsal branches of the thoracic spinal nerves and the rami communicants that contain sympathetic nerve fibers. ESP block can replace thoracic epidural anesthesia and has a better analgesic effect compared to other plane blocks that are used in abdominal surgery. We described six case series of successfully performed ESP block for postoperative analgesia in various abdominal surgeries such as unilateral open inguinal hernia repair with a supraumbilical hernia, ileostomy reversal surgery, open diaphragmatic hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and abdominal abscess evacuation.

Keywords: Abdominal surgery; analgesia; erector spinae plane block; postoperative pain.