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

Table 2 Comparison of resting numerical rating scale, dynamic numerical rating scale, and number of balls lifted in spirometry after surgery between the two study groups, mean ± SD

Time post-extubation (hours)	ESB (n = 34)	TEA (n = 34)	P value
Resting NRS
0	1.70 ± 1.03	1.05 ± 0.77	0.004a
6	1.64 ± 0.98	1.2 ± 0.88	0.055
12	2.17 ± 0.93	2.0 ± 1.10	0.480
24	2.76 ± 1.32	2.20 ± 1.32	0.080
36	2.64 ± 1.43	2.52 ± 1.18	0.710
48	3.29 ± 1.19	2.88 ± 1.25	0.170
72	3.2 ± 1.07	2.61 ± 0.92	0.010a
Dynamic NRS
0	3.0 ± 1.3	1.7 ± 1.0	0.0001a
6	3.23 ± 1.23	1.9 ± 1.05	0.0001a
12	3.7 ± 1.08	2.8 ± 1.2	0.003a
24	4.29 ± 1.46	2.9 ± 1.4	0.0001a
36	4.23 ± 1.53	3.2 ± 1.2	0.0045a
48	4.64 ± 1.34	3.58 ± 1.30	0.0015a
72	4.52 ± 1.16	3.5 ± 0.99	0.0002a
Number of balls lifted in spirometry after surgery (1/2/3)
0	10/22/2	2/25/7	0.015a
6	8/16/10	1/11/22	0.002a
12	10/10/14	1/7/26	0.003a
24	6/16/12	1/9/24	0.008a
36	4/18/12	1/12/21	0.060
48	4/18/12	1/9/24	0.020a
72	4/16/14	1/6/27	0.005a

^aP indicates significant value.

ESB: Erector spinae plane block; TEA: Thoracic epidural anaesthesia; NRS: Numerical rating scale.