Evaluation of the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of erector spinae plane block ın patients undergoing robotic colorectal surgery: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE

As minimally invasive techniques, particularly robotic surgery, become more prevalent, effective postoperative pain management remains crucial in colorectal cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an erector spinae plane block on postoperative pain management and opioid consumption in patients undergoing robotic colorectal surgery.

METHODS

The study was designed as a prospective observational non-randomized study. After receiving ethical approval, 70 patients were evaluated prospectively: Thirty-six patients were in the erector spinae plane block group, and 34 patients were in the control group. Postoperative pain scores at rest and during deep breathing/coughing, as well as opioid consumption within the first 24 h, patient-controlled analgesia demand data, the need for rescue analgesics, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and complications were recorded.

RESULTS

The erector spinae plane block group demonstrated significantly lower postoperative pain scores, reduced total opioid consumption, and reduced patient-controlled analgesia demand during the first 72 h compared with the control group. The erector spinae plane block group also had a longer time to the first analgesic request. The erector spinae plane block group also had a lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Length of hospital stay and time to mobilization were similar between groups.

CONCLUSION

Erector spinae plane block appears to be a safe and effective component of multimodal analgesia in robotic colorectal surgery. It was associated with lower postoperative pain scores, reduced opioid consumption, and fewer opioid-related side effects. Further multicenter randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.