Effects of Patient Controlled Erector Spinae Block on Postoperative Pain in Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) : A Randomized Controlled Study

Open thoracic surgeries are very painful procedures. After these procedures multimodal analgesia methods such as NSAIDs, opioids, PCA (patient-controlled analgesia), infiltration analgesia and thoracal epidural block are frequently used. Of these methods thoracal epidural block is the gold standart, however this technique is very invasive and has a high risk for complications. Lately Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) has become more popular because it reduces the hospital stay and is less invasive, hence the thoracic epidural block for postoperative pain has become more questionable. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of continue Erector Spinae Block (ESB) on postoperative pain after VATS. The study will include 80 patients.

40 patients will receive ultrasound (USG) guided ESB and 40 patients will receive PCA.

All patients will recive IV Midazolam (0.05mg/kg) premedication. Standard monitorization of EKG, non- invasive blood pressure and pulsoximeter will be done and recorded in every 5 minutes. Fentanyl (1-2 µg/kg), Propofol (2-3 mg/kg) and Rocuronyum (0,5-0,8 mg/kg) will be given in induction of general anesthesia. Volume -controlled ventilation will be secured to have the values O2 saturation >98% and en-tidal carbondioxide 30-35 mm-Hg. For the mainentanance of general anesthesia the minimal alveolar concentration of sevoflurane will be 1. After the surgery every patient will receive 1 gr paracetemol and 100 mg tramadol for postoperative pain. Furthermore every patient will receive 8 mg ondansetrone for postoperative nausesa.

After sedation and standard monitorization, 20 minutes before the induction and in the prone position the Erecor Spinae Block (ESB) procedure will be done. 10 % povidone - iodin will be used for sterilization and the USG probe will be covered with sterile sheath. The block will be done at the 8th thoracic vertebra line. The USG probe will be replaced 2-3 cm lateral to the spinous process in sagittal plane. When the erector spinae muscle is identifed in the USG the needle will be guided caudally. 0.5-1 ml local anesthetics will be given in order to confirm the needle is in the right place. After confirmation with 20 mL %0.25 bupivacaine the procedure will be performed. The patients' VAS scores will be evaluated at the 1st,3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours and will be recorded.