Erector Spinae Plane Blocks vs No Blocks for Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Abstract

Background: Erector spinae plane blocks have recently gained traction in modern literature as a simple and effective alternative to Transverse Abdominis Plane (TAP) blocks for decreasing post-operative abdominal pain. Post-operative pain causes a significant burden to patients receiving laparoscopic hysterectomy, which can be ameliorated with effective anesthetic care promoting faster recovery. Objective: Our study aims to test the hypothesis that ESP block patients will have better pain scores and less opioid usage compared to patients who only receive IV pain meds. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review on patients at University Hospital who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy between May 2019-August 2021. 64 patients met criteria for inclusion. Those who received ESP block were compared with controls who received no block. Results: Our review found a significant reduction in both the patient reported max pain (4.0 vs 7.0, P=0.005) and average pain scores (2.2 vs 3.5, P=0.029) as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale. Conclusion: The erector spinae plane block shows potential for being an effective and simple alternative to TAP blocks or to IV opioids for the control of post-operative pain in laparoscopic hysterectomy.