Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41324711›Full record

SynthesisCurrent pain and headache reports2025

Comparative Efficacy of Nerve Blocks for Post-Operative Analgesia Following Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review.

Shivam S Shah, Coplen D Johnson, Cameron A Howe, Anton W Pelto, Christian Grant, Sahar Shekoohi, Anusha Kallurkar, Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Alan D Kaye

Abstract readSystematic ReviewComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Current pain and headache reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Shivam S ShahSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Coplen D JohnsonSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Cameron A HoweSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Anton W PeltoSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Christian GrantBiology, Louisiana Technical University, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA.
Sahar ShekoohiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA. sahar.shekoohi@lsuhs.edu.
Anusha KallurkarDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Alaa Abd-ElsayedDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
Alan D KayeDepartment of Anesthesiology, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neurosciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRobot-assisted prostatectomy (RAP) can cause significant post-operative pain. Opioids are commonly used for relief, but they pose risks such as side effects and potential dependence. To reduce opioid usage, regional anesthesia approaches, especially various nerve block techniques, have been developed. However, evidence comparing the effectiveness of these different nerve blocks remains limited.

methodsA systematic review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different nerve block techniques on post-operative pain control after RAP. Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared nerve blocks with either standard care or other regional anesthesia techniques. The primary outcomes assessed were pain scores, opioid consumption, recovery metrics, and treatment-related adverse effects.

resultsEight studies comprising 696 participants were included. Intrathecal morphine consistently demonstrated the most significant reduction in post-operative pain and opioid use, though with increased incidence of pruritus and other side effects. Erector spinae plane blocks (ESPB) and rectus sheath blocks (RSB) were also effective, offering a favorable balance of analgesia and safety. Quadratus lumborum blocks (QLB) and pudendal nerve blocks (PNB) were found to effectively reduce pain, opioid usage, and side effects when they were used in a multimodal analgesic protocol. Alternatively, transversus abdominis plane blocks (TAPB) and caudal blocks were found to have mixed or no opioid-sparing effects. Because of methodological heterogeneity between studies, direct comparisons between blocks were limited.

conclusionRegional anesthesia techniques improve post-operative pain control and reduce opioid use after RAP. Given the lack of definitive superiority among techniques, analgesia should be individualized and incorporated into multimodal, opioid-sparing protocols. More large-scale, head-to-head trials are needed to guide optimal nerve block selection.

Indexed as

AnalgesiaNerve BlockPain ManagementPostoperative PainProstatectomyRobotic Surgical ProceduresAnalgesics, OpioidHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeAnalgesics, OpioidAnalgesiaNerve blocksOpioid consumptionPain managementPost-operative pain managementRobot-assisted prostatectomy

Identifiers

PMID41324711

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.