Serratus Posterior Superior vs Erector Spinae Plane Block for Breast Surgery

April 24, 2026 updated by: MEHMETGOKHAN, Sakarya University

Comparison of Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block and Erector Spinae Plane Block in Breast Surgery in Terms of Ease of Application and Patient Comfort

Postoperative pain after mastectomy remains a significant clinical problem that may impair patient comfort and delay early rehabilitation, potentially affecting functional recovery. Various analgesic techniques are used to manage postoperative pain. This study aims to compare serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block and erector spinae plane block, which are routinely used in our clinic for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing mastectomy, in terms of ease of application and patient comfort.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Postoperative pain following mastectomy is a common and clinically significant issue that not only reduces patient comfort but may also hinder early mobilization and rehabilitation, thereby negatively impacting overall functional outcomes. Effective postoperative analgesia is therefore a key component of perioperative care in breast surgery.

A variety of analgesic techniques, including systemic analgesics and regional anesthesia methods, are currently employed to manage postoperative pain. Among these, ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks have gained increasing popularity due to their relative safety, simplicity, and effectiveness. The serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block and the erector spinae plane (ESP) block are two such regional techniques used for thoracic analgesia.

In our clinical practice, both SPSIP and ESP blocks are routinely used for patients undergoing mastectomy. However, comparative data regarding their ease of application and impact on patient comfort are limited. Ease of application is an important consideration for anesthesiologists, particularly in busy clinical settings, while patient comfort during block placement is a critical but often underreported outcome.

The primary aim of this study is to compare SPSIP block and ESP block in patients undergoing mastectomy in terms of ease of application and patient comfort during the procedure. Secondary considerations may include block-related characteristics and their contribution to postoperative recovery.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

64

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 25-65 years American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III Patients scheduled for mastectomy under general anesthesia Patients with no history of previous breast surgery Patients who provide written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • ASA physical status IV and above History of alcohol or substance abuse Known allergy to local anesthetics or opioids Patients with severe psychiatric disorders Patients who refuse to participate or do not provide informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Group
Participants in this group will receive an ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block for postoperative analgesia following mastectomy. The block will be performed under standardized conditions prior to surgery according to the study protocol.
Procedure: Serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block
Participants in this group will receive an ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block for postoperative analgesia following mastectomy. The block will be performed under standardized conditions prior to surgery according to the study protocol.
Experimental: Erector Spinae Plane Block Group
Participants in this group will receive an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block for postoperative analgesia following mastectomy. The block will be performed under standardized conditions prior to surgery according to the study protocol.
Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane Block
Participants in this group will receive an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block for postoperative analgesia following mastectomy. The block will be performed under standardized conditions prior to surgery according to the study protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ease of block application (procedure difficulty score)
Time Frame: Immediately after block performance
The ease of application of the block will be evaluated using a 10-point numerical rating scale (0-10), where lower scores indicate easier application and higher scores indicate greater procedural difficulty. The score will be assigned by the anesthesiologist performing the block immediately after completion of the procedure.
Immediately after block performance

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative pain score at 24 hours
Time Frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) at 24 hours after surgery.
24 hours postoperatively
Quality of recovery at 24 hours
Time Frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Postoperative recovery quality will be assessed using the Quality of recovery (QoR-15) questionnaire at 24 hours after surgery. The total score ranges from 0 to 150, with higher scores indicating better recovery.
24 hours postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sakarya University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SAU-ANE-MGK-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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