Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Intercostal Block with Incision Infiltration in Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objectives: Patients undergoing robotic video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (rVATS) report significant postoperative pain. Both the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) and the surgical intercostal block (IB) (performed by a surgeon from within the thorax), along with incision infiltration (II), are distinct modalities that target the lateral cutaneous branches of intercostal nerves and are acceptable analgesic modalities in an enhanced recovery after rVATS surgery.

Design: Prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled pilot trial with 65 patients to assess the difference in analgesia quality between the SAPB and IB+II in rVATS.

Setting: Major academic teaching hospital.

Participants: The inclusion criteria included ASA physical status I-IV, ages 18-to-75 undergoing an elective, unilateral rVATS procedure.

Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either an ultrasound-guided SAPB at the end of their surgery, using a 20-mL mixture consisting of 10 mL of liposomal bupivacaine (133 mg) and 10 mL 0.25% bupivacaine, or IB+II, using a 20-mL mixture consisting of 10 mL of liposomal bupivacaine (133 mg) and 10 mL 0.5% bupivacaine prior to skin closure by the surgeon.

Results: The primary outcome was the amount of postoperative opioid consumption in morphine milliequivalents [MME] during the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes were time to first analgesic request, VAS scores at zero, two, six, 18, or 24 hours at rest, and PACU, ICU, or hospital lengths of stay (LOS). There were no differences in any outcomes between the groups.

Conclusions: Both SAPB and IB+II are comparable analgesic modalities for rVATS procedures.