The Effect of Erector Spinae Plane Block on Quality of Recovery and Postoperative Analgesia After Inguinal Hernia Repair

Inguinal hernia repair (IHR) is one of the most commonly performed operations in general surgery practice. Unfortunately, 40% of the patients experience moderate-to-severe acute pain in the early period. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a relatively new interfascial plane block which was described in 2016. In this prospective, controlled trial, the primary hypothesis is that ultrasound-guided unilateral ESP block will provide an increase in the quality of recovery-15 scores which will be assessed at the postoperative 24th hour following open IHR surgery. The secondary hypothesis is that ESP block will reduce postoperative pain scores, need for rescue analgesia and time to first mobilization.The study will be conducted as a single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial in a university hospital. Patients scheduled for an elective unilateral open IHR under spinal anesthesia, will be screened for enrollment to the study. At the end of the operation, patients will be randomized to receive a unilateral ESP block with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine or 30 ml of normal saline at the level of T12 vertebrae. A blinded anesthesiologist will collect outcome measures in the postoperative period.

Inclusion criteria

• American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II
• Elective unilateral open inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

• Coagulation disorder
• Known allergy to study drugs
• Chronic opioid use
• Infection at the injection site
• Use of pain medications
• Psychologic disorder or inability to cooperate Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) test
• Preoperative pain related to inguinal hernia NRS > 4/10