Analgesic efficacy of continuous ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae block and thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing antero-lateral thoracotomy

Table 1 Patient demographics, baseline lung function, block characteristics, and peri-operative drugs used in the study groups, mean ± SD

Parameter	ESB (n = 34)	TEA (n = 34)	P value
Age (year)	46.1 ± 11.28	47.08 ± 12.07	0.750
Gender (male:female)	20/14	24/10	0.310
Body mass index (kg/m2)	24.7 ± 1.6	25.1 ± 1.8	0.520
ASA physical status (II/III)	28/6	31/3	0.280
Balls lifted in spirometry preoperatively (1/2/3)	15/14/5	10/18/6	0.450
BHT (seconds)	20.4 ± 2.04	20.35 ± 2.41	0.910
Time taken to perform the block (minutes)	16.58 ± 3.66	13.84 ± 2.88	0.001a
Type of surgery (lobectomy/ decortication/ pneumonectomy)	12/14/8	12/15/7	0.100
Intraoperative fentanyl consumed (mcg)	196.41 ± 5.68	195.07 ± 6.74	0.370
Intraoperative fluid administered (mL)	1469.35 ± 28.64	1481.05 ± 29.64	0.100
Intraoperative phenylephrine used (mcg)	0.950 ± 0.3985	1.139 ± 1.1853	0.380
Postoperative nor-adrenaline used (mg)	3.49 ± 1.51	3.61 ± 0.96	0.680

^aP indicates significant value.

ESB: Erector spinae plane block; TEA: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia; ASA-PS: American Society of Anaesthesiology-Physical Status; BHT: Breath holding time.

Table 2 Comparison of resting numerical rating scale, dynamic numerical rating scale, and number of balls lifted in spirometry after surgery between the two study groups, mean ± SD

Time post-extubation (hours)	ESB (n = 34)	TEA (n = 34)	P value
Resting NRS
0	1.70 ± 1.03	1.05 ± 0.77	0.004a
6	1.64 ± 0.98	1.2 ± 0.88	0.055
12	2.17 ± 0.93	2.0 ± 1.10	0.480
24	2.76 ± 1.32	2.20 ± 1.32	0.080
36	2.64 ± 1.43	2.52 ± 1.18	0.710
48	3.29 ± 1.19	2.88 ± 1.25	0.170
72	3.2 ± 1.07	2.61 ± 0.92	0.010a
Dynamic NRS
0	3.0 ± 1.3	1.7 ± 1.0	0.0001a
6	3.23 ± 1.23	1.9 ± 1.05	0.0001a
12	3.7 ± 1.08	2.8 ± 1.2	0.003a
24	4.29 ± 1.46	2.9 ± 1.4	0.0001a
36	4.23 ± 1.53	3.2 ± 1.2	0.0045a
48	4.64 ± 1.34	3.58 ± 1.30	0.0015a
72	4.52 ± 1.16	3.5 ± 0.99	0.0002a
Number of balls lifted in spirometry after surgery (1/2/3)
0	10/22/2	2/25/7	0.015a
6	8/16/10	1/11/22	0.002a
12	10/10/14	1/7/26	0.003a
24	6/16/12	1/9/24	0.008a
36	4/18/12	1/12/21	0.060
48	4/18/12	1/9/24	0.020a
72	4/16/14	1/6/27	0.005a

^aP indicates significant value.

ESB: Erector spinae plane block; TEA: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia; NRS: Numerical rating scale.

Table 3 Comparison of mean arterial pressure and postoperative inotropic requirement between the two study groups

Time post-extubation (hours)	ESB (n = 34)	TEA (n = 34)	P value
MAP
0	68.4 ± 3.15	58.8 ± 5.02	< 0.0001a
6	68.4 ± 6.16	60.2 ± 6.04	< 0.0001a
12	70.4 ± 5.58	61.2 ± 4.11	< 0.0001a
24	69.5 ± 5.08	63.14 ± 3.4	< 0.0001a
36	71.7 ± 4.8	64.7 ± 2.0	< 0.0001a
48	72.4 ± 4.36	64.58 ± 2.68	< 0.0001a
72	72.0 ± 4.36	65.8 ± 2.78	< 0.0001a
Proportion of patients with postoperative inotropic requirement
0	0/34	14/34	0.001a
6	2/34	14/34	0.0012a
12	2/34	8/34	0.08
24	2/34	6/34	0.260
36	0/34	0/34	1.00
48	0/34	0/34	1.00
72	0/34	0/34	1.00

^aP indicates significant value.

ESB: Erector spinae plane block; TEA: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia; MAP: Mean arterial pressure.