Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block elicits sensory loss around the lateral, but not the parasternal, portion of the thorax

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (US-ESPB) has been recently reported to be an effective technique for thoracic surgery [1,2]. US-ESPB is a type of fascial block requiring a sufficient dose of drug to adequately cover the interfascial plane [3]. We performed US-ESPB for 12 patients in cases of thoracoscopic lobectomy and assessed the anesthetized area from anterior to lateral thorax, as well as postoperative pain scores, to verify the analgesic features for thoracic surgery. After obtaining written informed consent from all patients and approval from the Institutional Review Board of Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1–3, who were scheduled to undergo complete video-assisted lobectomy without rib spreading, underwent US-ESPB followed by the induction of general anesthesia.

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