Comparison of the postoperative clinical effects of A uni-sided erector spina plane block and thoracic paravertebral block in patients undertaking thoracotomy

Objective: To compare the postoperative clinical effects of unilateral erector spina plane block (ESPB) and thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) performed with ultrasonography in patients undergoing thoracotomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 130 patients, aged between 18-75 years, who had undergone thoracotomy surgery, 65 patients who had undergone ESPB (Group E) and 65 patients who had undergone TPVB (Group T) were included in the study. Demographic data of the patients (age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, ASA score, comorbidities and smoking status) were recorded. ESPB was applied to the patients in Group E and TPVB was applied to the patients in Group T with 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine under the guidance of ultrasonography. Postoperative first 24-hour VAS and NRS scores, vital signs, average opioid consumption, average analgesia demand times, shoulder pain (yes or no) and side effects (nausea-vomiting, itching) were recorded. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of VAS (p=0.624) and NRS (p=0.40) scores evaluated at postoperative 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours; however, the 3rd hour VAS and NRS values of Group E and Group T were higher than the 0th hour and there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). The 6th hour VAS and NRS values of Group E and Group T were higher than 0, 3, 12 and 24 hours and there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Group E and Group T had lower 24-hour VAS and NRS values compared to 0, 3, 6 and 12 hours and there was a statistically significant difference (p=0.001). Age (p=0.411), height (p=0.636), weight (p=0.194) and body mass index (p=0.104) values of the patients did not differ statistically between the groups; however, there was a statistically significant difference in the distribution according to gender (p=0.039). Accordingly, while the number of male patients was higher in the TPVB (M:58, F:7) group; The number of female patients was higher in the ESPB (M:49, F:16) group. Conclusion: The patients who underwent ESPB and TPVB for postoperative analgesic purposes after thoracotomy were similar in terms of VAS and NRS scores, average opioid consumption, average analgesia demand times, vital signs, shoulder pain and nausea-vomiting states, that TPVB and ESPB methods were not superior to each other; however, they show that they are good alternatives to each other as part of postoperative multimodal analgesia in thoracic surgery. Keywords: VAS and NRS scores