Postoperative Pain Management using Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Following Abdominal Surgery: A Case Series

Effective postoperative pain management forms an integral part of enhanced recovery following abdominal surgery. Somatic and visceral pain components significantly impact comfort and recovery. The Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) is a simple, safe, and effective regional anaesthetic technique that has the capability of providing analgesia with minimal side-effects. This case series describes four adults undergoing various abdominal surgeries, in whom ultrasound-guided ESPB at appropriate thoracic levels was performed as a part of the multimodal analgesic regimen. All patients had a pre-anaesthetic evaluation and followed standard fasting protocols. The blocks were performed using either ropivacaine or bupivacaine, under careful monitoring for haemodynamic stability. All patients showed excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia as evidenced by stable vital parameters and a minimum requirement for rescue opioids, along with early postoperative mobilisation. No patients experienced any block-related complications. The findings of this case series show that ESPB is effective in providing somatic and visceral pain relief and enhancing recovery, forming a useful component in multimodal analgesia, especially in patients with comorbidities or contraindications to neuraxial techniques.