The Shining Star of the Last Decade in Regional Anesthesia Part-II: Interfascial Plane Blocks for Cardiac, Abdominal, and Spine Surgery

Abstract

The sine qua non of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols designed to improve the perioperative experiences and outcomes of patients is to determine the most appropriate analgesia management. Although many regional techniques have been tried over the years in this purpose, interfacial plane blocks have become more popular with the introduction of ultrasound technology into daily practice and they have great potential to support effective postoperative pain management in many surgeries. The current article focuses on the benefits, techniques, indications, and complications of interfascial plane blocks applied in cardiac, abdominal, and spine surgeries.

The Medipol Combination: Novel Rectointercostal Fascial Plane Block and Pectointercostal Fascial Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia Management After Cardiac Surgery: A Report of 15 Cases

“…Indeed, regional anesthesia techniques are performed for postoperative analgesia management after cardiac surgery. 1,2 The sternum is innervated by the anterior branches of the T2–T6 intercostal nerves (Figure 3A). In cardiac surgery with median sternotomies, drainage tubes are commonly placed in the epigastric region.…”

“…A number of factors contribute to pain after cardiac surgery including median sternotomy, thoracic retraction, sternal wires, and chest tubes. [1][2][3][4] Parasternal fascial plane blocks have become popular and target the anterior branches of the T2-T6 intercostal nerves. Although these blocks can effectively relieve pain associated with sternotomy, they do not mitigate pain from chest tubes that may be placed in the epigastric region through the rectus abdominis muscle (RAM).…”