Analgesic efficacy of continuous ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae block and thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing antero-lateral thoracotomy

Table 1 Patient demographics, baseline lung function, block characteristics, and peri-operative drugs used in the study groups, mean ± SD

Parameter	ESB (n = 34)	TEA (n = 34)	P value
Age (year)	46.1 ± 11.28	47.08 ± 12.07	0.750
Gender (male:female)	20/14	24/10	0.310
Body mass index (kg/m2)	24.7 ± 1.6	25.1 ± 1.8	0.520
ASA physical status (II/III)	28/6	31/3	0.280
Balls lifted in spirometry preoperatively (1/2/3)	15/14/5	10/18/6	0.450
BHT (seconds)	20.4 ± 2.04	20.35 ± 2.41	0.910
Time taken to perform the block (minutes)	16.58 ± 3.66	13.84 ± 2.88	0.001a
Type of surgery (lobectomy/ decortication/ pneumonectomy)	12/14/8	12/15/7	0.100
Intraoperative fentanyl consumed (mcg)	196.41 ± 5.68	195.07 ± 6.74	0.370
Intraoperative fluid administered (mL)	1469.35 ± 28.64	1481.05 ± 29.64	0.100
Intraoperative phenylephrine used (mcg)	0.950 ± 0.3985	1.139 ± 1.1853	0.380
Postoperative nor-adrenaline used (mg)	3.49 ± 1.51	3.61 ± 0.96	0.680

^aP indicates significant value.

ESB: Erector spinae plane block; TEA: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia; ASA-PS: American Society of Anaesthesiology-Physical Status; BHT: Breath holding time.