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The efficacy of rhomboid intercostal block for pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a prospective, randomized-controlled trial

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Abstract

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) for analgesia management in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods

Adult patients who underwent VATS under general anesthesia between July 2020 and June 2022 were included in the study. There was two groups in this study: RIB (n = 25) vs control (n = 25) group. RIB was performed with 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of the surgery. Surgical intercostal blockade was performed with 30 ml 0.25% bupivacaine in the control group. The patients received intravenous fentanyl patient-controlled postoperative analgesia. The numerical rating score (NRS), opioid consumption, and adverse events were recorded.

Results

A total of 50 patients were randomized into 2 groups. There were no significant difference in terms of the demographic data between groups (P > 0.05). Postoperative opioid consumption at 0–8, 8–16, 16–24, and 24–48 h and rescue analgesic use were significantly lower in RIB group (P < 0.05). At all times, the static/dynamic NRS were significantly lower in RIB group. The rate of nausea and itching was higher in control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

US-guided RIB provides effective post-VATS analgesia.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

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Funding

The authors have no sources of funding to declare for this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Istanbul Medipol University, 34040, Bagcilar, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bahadir Ciftci, Selcuk Alver, Hande Güngör, Burak Omur & Yaşar Gokhan Gul

  2. Department of Anesthesiology, Katip Çelebi University, Izmir, Turkey

    Birzat Emre Gölboyu

  3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mahmut Subasi

  4. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey

    Mursel Ekinci

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  1. Bahadir Ciftci
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  2. Selcuk Alver
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  3. Hande Güngör
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  4. Birzat Emre Gölboyu
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Contributions

All of the authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; they have been involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content; have given final approval of the version to be published.

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Correspondence to Bahadir Ciftci.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study has been approved by Istanbul Medipol University Ethics and Research Committee (16/06/2020, Decision No: E.17828). All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

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Ciftci, B., Alver, S., Güngör, H. et al. The efficacy of rhomboid intercostal block for pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a prospective, randomized-controlled trial. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-024-02036-8

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