This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques, erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB), with standard patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
Adult patients undergoing elective VATS were randomly assigned to receive ESPB, SPSIPB, or PCA alone. The primary objective was to evaluate postoperative pain intensity during the first 48 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, rescue analgesia requirements, patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications.