Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block in Patients with Failed Epidural

Abstract

Pain following thoracotomy is severe and requires adequate analgesia for better postoperative recovery. Epidural analgesia is considered the gold standard for thoracotomy pain. A newer ultrasound-guided analgesic technique, erector spinae plane block, has multidermatomal sensory block. We report two cases, for which an ultrasound-guided continuous erector spinae plane block was given using an 18G catheter. Both the patients received a continuous local anesthetic infusion for 48 hours and were pain-free. Erector spinae plane block can be a suitable alternative for analgesia in patients with failed epidural or contraindication to epidural analgesia.