Fascial Plane Blocks In Cardiac Surgery

Effective pain management after cardiac surgery is crucial in improving patient outcomes, promoting early postoperative mobilisation and minimising the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. It has indeed been shown that these patients experience moderate to severe pain during the postoperative period. While opioids are commonly used in perioperative care, they are also linked to adverse opioid-related effects. The literature suggests selecting an analgesic treatment strategy that avoids opioid-based analgesia for patients undergoing cardiac surgery during the postoperative period. Regional anaesthesia techniques are widely used in cardiac surgery patients to address concerns about the risk of myocardial and/or renal damage associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduce the incidence of potential opioid-related side effects, lower the high risk of delirium and improve patient rehabilitation. However, only a limited number of studies have demonstrated the effects of the recto-intercostal fascial plane block (RIFPB) or the rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with the pectoral-intercostal fascial plane block (PIFPB) on postoperative analgesia in cardiac surgery patients. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of the RIFPB or the RSB combined with the PIFPB on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.