Erector Spinae Plane Block Reduces Opioid Consumption and Pain After Abdominal Hysterectomy

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and perioperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This single-center observational study included 158 patients aged 40–70 years undergoing elective total abdominal hysterectomy under general anesthesia. Patients were grouped according to whether they received bilateral ultrasound-guided ESPB. Primary outcomes were intraoperative remifentanil consumption and 24-hour postoperative morphine consumption. Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores, additional analgesic requirement, and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Results: Patients who received ESPB had significantly lower intraoperative remifentanil and postoperative morphine consumption compared with controls (p < 0.001). ESPB was also associated with lower postoperative pain scores and reduced additional analgesic requirements. Multivariable regression analyses confirmed that ESPB remained independently associated with lower opioid consumption after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusion: ESPB was associated with reduced opioid consumption and improved postoperative analgesia after abdominal hysterectomy. Randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.