Continuous Serratus - Intercostal Plane Block for Perioperative Analgesia in Upper Abdominal Surgeries: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: Acute pain management after open abdominal surgeries is an essential goal in perioperative management.. Recently, serratus-intercostal plane block (SIPB) was suggested as an analgesic technique for upper abdominal surgeries.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled study included sixty adult patients scheduled for open upper abdominal surgeries. Patients were allocated into two equal groups: SIPB group (S group, n = 30) and control group (the C group, n = 30). In the S group, SIPB was performed in the midaxillary line at the eighth rib level followed by continuous infusion of local anaesthetic for the first postoperative day. In the C group, no block was done. The primary objective of the study was to control postoperative pain on the first postoperative day as assessed by the numerical rating scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes included perioperative hemodynamics, total postoperative analgesic consumption, number of analgesic requests, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Results: The mean postoperative NRS reported in group S was statistically lower than that in group C (2.4±0.7, 3.9±0.31, < 0.001). The postoperative morphine consumption was lower in the S group than in the C group [(0 (0-4), 3 (1-4), respectively, < 0.001]. The incidence of PONV was significantly lower in the S group than in the C group (16.7% and 40%, < 0.045).

Conclusion: SIPB was associated with a better analgesic profile compared with the control group after upper abdominal surgeries. Further studies are recommended to determine block safety in special patient groups, including bariatric and laparoscopic surgeries.