Postoperative Analgesia After Minithoracotomy

Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Blockade in Patients Scheduled for Minimally Invasively Mitral Valve Replacement

Patients scheduled for minimally invasive mitral valve replacement. Each patient will be treated with intravenous (i.v.) oxycodone - patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Half of the patients will be randomly allocated to Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) blockade group.

Only patients who are qualified for an elective procedure of mitral valve replacement may participate in the study. Each patient will be anesthetized generally. The same drugs will be used in each stage of anesthesia. The induction: etomidate, remifentanil, rocuronium, scolina as required. The maintenance: sevoflurane, remifentanil, rocuronium. The emergence: oxygen, sugammadex or neostigmine a required. Patients will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: PCA or ESP. Among the patients from ESP group will have ESP blockade before the induction of general anesthesia. ESP blockade will be performed under ultrasound control. A single-shot technique will be used with 0.375 % solution of ropivacaine: 0.2 mL per patients' KG. The maximum dose is 40 mL. Each patient, before the end of surgery, will be administered i.v. 0.1 mg of oxycodone. PCA with oxycodone (1mg/mL) will be utilized during the postoperative period: 5-minute interval. This is standard protocol in our department. Only patients who are successfully awakened after the procedure may participate in the study. The pain intensity will be assessed with visual-analogue scale (VAS) at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hour after the end of anesthesia. The total consumption of oxycodone will be also monitored.

Before the induction of general anesthesia, Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) blockade will be done. Postoperative analgesia is provided with intravenous oxycodone. Patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA) will be used for this purpose.

Postoperative analgesia is provided with intravenous oxycodone. Patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA) will be used for this purpose. ESP will not be done in this arm.

Before the beginning of the procedure, ESP blockade will be performed under ultrasound control. A single-shot technique will be used with 0.375 % solution of ropivacaine: 0.2 mL per patients' KG. The maximum dose is 40 mL.

Each patient, before the end of surgery, will be administered i.v. 0.1 mg of oxycodone. PCA with oxycodone (1mg/mL) will be utilized during the postoperative period: 5-minute interval.

From the end of anesthesia till 24 hour postoperatively. VAS range from 0 (no pain, good outcome) to 100 in millimeters (the worst pain ever, bad outcome).

Inclusion Criteria: Scheduled mitral valve replacement surgery obtained consent Exclusion Criteria: allergy to oxycodone and local anesthetics depression, antidepressant drugs treatment epilepsy usage of painkiller before surgery addiction to alcohol or recreational drugs postoperative ventilation or ICU admission