Comparisons in analgesic effects between ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block and surgical intercostal nerve block after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Study objective: This study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of anesthesiologist-administrated erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and surgeon-administrated intercostal nerve block (ICNB) following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Design: Randomized, controlled, double-blinded study. Setting: Operating room, postoperative recovery room and ward in two centers. Patients: One hundred patients, ASA I -III and scheduled for elective VATS. Interventions: The anesthesiologist-administrated ESPB under ultrasound guidance or surgeon-administrated ICNB under video-assisted thoracoscopy was randomly provided during VATS. Regular oral non-opioid analgesic combined with intravenous rescue morphine were prescribed for multimodal analgesia after surgery.