Ultrasound Guided Bilateral Erector Spinae Block With Dexamethasone For Post-Operative Analgesia In Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Case Series

Most of the lumbar spine surgeries cause severe post-operative pain. Poorly controlled postoperative pain is associated with increased morbidity and increased health-care costs. Recently, erector spinae plane (ESP) block has been introduced in our clinical practice as a part of the multimodal pain strategy after lumbar spine surgery. This case series is to analyse the efficacy and safety of erector spinae block for lumbar spine surgery.

In this study eight patients, who were posted for lumbar spine surgeries, ultrasound (US) guided bilateral erector spinae block was given post-operatively. Post-operative pain was assessed using Visual analogue scale (VAS), score at 4, 8, 12 and 24 hrs. Rescue analgesia inj tramadol 50gm IV was given when VAS score was more than or equal to 5. Time when the first rescue analgesia was given was noted.

Erector spinae block was successfully performed in all the cases. The mean duration of the procedures was 175.6±31.7 mins (Table 1). None of the patients complained of pain in the immediate postoperative period. The mean time of first rescue analgesia was 11.3±2.3 mins.

ESP block with dexamethasone offer a good postoperative analgesia in lumbar spine surgeries for acute postoperative pain reducing the opioid consumption.