Does erector spinae plane block result in improved postoperative analgesia and enhanced recovery in adult patients after cardiac surgery?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether erector spinae plane block (ESPB) resulted in improved postoperative analgesia and enhanced recovery in adult cardiac surgical patients. A total of 333 papers were found using the reported search of which, 7 papers represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient groups studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. The cardiac surgical procedures included off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (1 study), mitral/tricuspid valve repair (1 study), robotic minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery (1 study) and other cardiac surgeries (4 studies). ESPB was compared to intravenous analgesia (5 studies), thoracic epidural analgesia (1 study) and serratus anterior plane block and paravertebral block (1 study). With ESPB, there was significant improvement in postoperative pain scores (4 studies), decreased opioid requirement/rescue analgesia (3 studies), increased duration of analgesia (1 study), decreased time to extubation (3 studies), less increase in postoperative Troponin T (1 study), earlier ambulation (2 studies), earlier oral intake (1 study), earlier chest drain removal (1 study), better patient satisfaction (1 study), reduced adverse events (1 study) and decreased intensive care unit stay (3 studies). We conclude that ESPB may be associated with improved postoperative analgesia and enhanced recovery after adult cardiac surgery based on the available evidence. However, there is a need for better quality randomized controlled trials to consolidate these findings.