Comparison of analgesic efficacy of ultrasound guided external oblique intercostal plane block and modified thoracoabdominal nerve block via perichondrial approach in patients undergoing upper abdominal surgeries

Various regional anesthesia techniques can be used to provide analgesia after abdominal surgery. While thoracic epidural anesthesia can be used, fascial plane blocks are favored as contemporary analgesic approaches. The thoracoabdominal nerves, also known as the T7–T12 thoracic intercostal nerves, innervate the abdominal wall muscles, parietal peritoneum, and skin. Postoperative pain following abdominal surgeries can arise from various causes. Multimodal analgesia methods are frequently used for the treatment of postoperative pain in different regions. Currently regional anesthesia techniques, particularly field blocks are typically used as multimodal analgesia. Various versions of Quadratus lumborum block, Erector spinae plane block, TAP block are used as regional anesthesia methods. Though QLB, ESP block targets both anterior and lateral cutaneous nerves, positioning and deep application area limits the use of such blocks. The inability of TAP block techniques to block the lateral and anterior areas of the upper abdominal region has prompted exploration of External oblique intercostal plane block, m- TAPA block, EXORA blocks. These blocks need further studies to know the vastness of its application and safety limits, hence present study is been carried out.