Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block Catheters for Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective, Propensity Weighted, Cohort Study

Abstract

Aim: Anesthesia for cardiac surgery has evolved toward fast-track recovery strategies incorporating non opioid analgesics and regional anesthesia. Materials & methods: This retrospective cohort study compared opioid consumption, pain scores and length of stay in patients who underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy and did or did not receive preoperative parasternal intercostal plane block catheters with postoperative ropivacaine infusions. Results: Postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores did not differ. Blocks were associated with decreased intraoperative opioids and reduced length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital. Conclusion: Parasternal intercostal plane block catheters were not associated with decreased postoperative opioid consumption or pain scores, but were associated with reduced intraoperative opioids and length of stay.

Tweetable abstract

Use of parasternal intercostal plane block catheters was associated with reduced intensive care unit and hospital and length of stay following cardiac surgery via median sternotomy in this retrospective cohort.

Keywords::

• analgesia
• cardiovascular surgical procedures
• enhanced recovery after surgery
• nerve block
• pain
• postoperative

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

This retrospective cohort study underwent institutional review board approval and the need for patients to provide written informed consent was waived by the institutional review board.