Additive Regional Fascial Plain Blocks to Pectointercostal Fascial Block for Postoperative Pain Management After Cardiac Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acute postoperative pain is severe in cardiac patients undergoing sternotomy, and pain intensity is more severe than expected. Many patients referred to tube insertion as the most painful site after coronary artery bypass surgery. (6) Rectus sheath block (RSB) can offer somatic analgesia for midline incisions. (7) It has been verified to manage subxiphoid drainage pain effectively and safely for cardiac surgery patients. Another intervention, External oblique intercoastal plane block (EOIPB) is given at the mid-clavicular line and may block the intercostal nerve's anterior and lateral branches. Anesthesia is provided between the external oblique and intercostal nerves. This allows analgesia of the anterior upper abdominal wall between T6-T10 dermatomes in the anterior axillary line and T6-T9 dermatomes in the midline. It blocks the lateral and anterior branches of T6-T10 intercostal nerves.

NCT Number	NCT06865404
Lead Sponsor	Alexandria University
Conditions	Postoperative Pain Management
Enrollment	180 participants
Start Date	2025-03-04
Primary Completion	2025-08-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-08-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-22