Feasibility and postoperative analgesic profile of multimodal analgesia including combined serratus anterior plane block in minimally invasive cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Although minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) is less invasive, patients may still experience significant postoperative pain. This observational study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and postoperative analgesic profile associated with the combined serratus anterior plane block (CSAPB), a component of multimodal analgesia in patients undergoing MICS. METHODS: morphine was planned. RESULTS: The hemodynamic parameters remained within clinically acceptable ranges. In 2 patients (10%), VAS scores exceeded 40 mm, requiring rescue analgesia. A statistically significant difference was observed in terms of changes in rest VAS scores (p = 0.015). Significant differences were also observed in the changes in cough VAS scores over time (p = 0.003). Nausea and vomiting were observed in 2 patients (10%). No other complications were observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal analgesia, including CSAPB, appears to be a feasible regional analgesia technique associated with low postoperative pain scores and minimal rescue analgesic requirements in patients undergoing MICS via right mini-thoracotomy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials Registration No: NCT06326320, Registration Date: 17/03/2024.