Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Breast Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) provides effective thoracic analgesia. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of SAPB for postoperative analgesia after breast surgery. A systematic literature search was performed using Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for eligible randomised controlled trials. The primary outcomes involved the administration of intraoperative and postoperative opioids. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used for rating the quality of evidence for making recommendations. Overall, 13 studies comprising 826 patients met the inclusion criteria (412 in the SAPB group and 414 in the control group). Patients treated with SAPB exhibited a significantly lower postoperative opioid consumption (mean difference, -38.51 mg of oral morphine equivalent; 95% confidence interval (CI), -60.97 to -16.05; P < 0.01; I 2  = 100%), whereas no difference was observed in the intraoperative opioid consumption (mean difference, -9.85 mg of oral morphine equivalent; 95% CI, -19.52 to -0.18; P=0.05; I 2  = 94%). In addition, SAPB significantly decreased the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (risk ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.19-0.55; P < 0.05;I 2  = 38%) and reduced pain scores during the postoperative period (1 h: standardised mean difference (SMD), -1.23; 95% CI, -2.00 to -0.45; I 2  = 92%; 2 h: SMD, -0.71; 95% CI, -1.00 to -0.41; I 2  = 48%; 4 h: SMD, -1.52; 95% CI, -2.77 to -0.27; I 2  = 95%; 6 h: SMD, -0.80; 95% CI, -1.51 to -0.08; I 2  = 81%; 8 h: SMD, -1.12; 95% CI, -1.98 to -0.27; I 2  = 92%; 12 h: SMD, -0.78; 95% CI, -1.21 to -0.35; I 2  = 83%; and 24 h: SMD, -0.71; 95% CI, -1.20 to -0.23; I 2  = 87%; P < 0.05 for all). SAPB was safe and effective after breast surgery to relieve postsurgical pain. However, additional well-developed trials are required to validate these findings.

Hu NQ ，He QQ ，Qian L ，Zhu JH ... -  《-》

Postoperative Analgesic Effects of Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Thoracic and Breast Surgery: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Meng J ，Zhao HY ，Zhuo XJ ，Shen QH ... -  《-》

Serratus anterior plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

The serratus anterior plane block (SAPb) is a promising interfascial plane technique able to provide profound thoracic analgesia. As only a few studies with quite small patient samples are presently available, the analgesic efficacy of adding SAPb to general anaesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), compared with general anaesthesia only, remains unclear. Our primary aim was to assess the analgesic efficacy of SAPb for VATS peri-operative pain control. The secondary aims were to evaluate differences in postoperative opioid use, intra-operative hypotension, postoperative side-effects and complications, time to chest tube removal, length of hospital stay. Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses.DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library, searched up to 6 December 2019.ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA RCTs including adult patients undergoing VATS who received single shot SAPb (cases), compared with general anaesthesia (controls). Seven RCTs, with a total of 489 patients were included. SAPb reduced pain scores peri-operatively, compared with controls: 6 h [mean difference -1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.35 to -1.37, P < 0.001]; 12 h (mean difference -1.45, 95% CI -1.66 to -1.25, P < 0.001); 24 h (mean difference -0.98, 95% CI -1.40 to -0.56, P < 0.001). SAPb also reduced the use of postoperative opioids (mean difference: -4.81 mg of intravenous morphine equivalent, 95% CI -8.41 to -1.22, P < 0.03) and decreased the incidence of nausea and vomiting (risk ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.79, P < 0.002). Compared with general anaesthesia only and if no other locoregional techniques are used, SAPb significantly reduces postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing VATS. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation rating are, nonetheless, quite low, due to high heterogeneity. Well designed and properly powered RCTs are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.

De Cassai A ，Boscolo A ，Zarantonello F ，Piasentini E ，Di Gregorio G ，Munari M ，Persona P ，Zampirollo S ，Zatta M ，Navalesi P ... -  《-》

Analgesic effectiveness of serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is a promising regional technique for analgesia in thoracic surgery. Till now, several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have explored the effectiveness of SAPB for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), but the sample sizes were small and conclusions remained in controversy. Therefore, we conducted the present systematic review and meta-analysis. RCTs evaluating the analgesic performance of SAPB, comparing to control methods (no block, placebo or local infiltration anesthesia), in patients undergoing VATS were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception to December 31, 2022. Mean difference (MD) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated for postoperative pain scores at various time points, postoperative opioid consumption and length of hospital stay. Pooled relative risk (RR) with 95%CI were calculated for the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and dizziness. A random-effect model was applied. A total of 12 RCTs (837 participants) were finally included. Compared to control group, SAPB had significant reductions of postoperative pain scores at 2 h (MD = -1.58, 95%CI: -1.86 to -1.31, P < 0.001), 6 h (MD = -2.06, 95%CI: -2.74 to -1.38, P < 0.001), 12 h (MD = -1.72, 95%CI: -2.30 to -1.14, P < 0.001) and 24 h (MD = -1.03, 95%CI: -1.55 to -0.52, P < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, SAPB conferred a fewer postoperative opioid consumption (MD = -7.3 mg of intravenous morphine equivalent, 95%CI: -10.16 to -4.44, P < 0.001) and lower incidence of PONV (RR = 0.56, 95%CI: 0.41 to 0.77, P < 0.001). There was no difference between both groups regarding length of hospital stay and risk of dizziness. SAPB shows an excellent performance in postoperative pain management in patients undergoing VATS by reducing pains scores, postoperative opioid consumption and incidence of PONV. However, due to huge heterogeneity, more well-designed, large-scale RCTs are needed to verify these findings in the future.

Li J ，Wang X ，Wang Y ，Zhang W ... -  《BMC Anesthesiology》

Single-injection serratus anterior plane block for cardiothoracic surgery via thoracotomy in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) has gained popularity in cardiothoracic surgery due to its feasibility and simplicity. However, the efficacy of ultrasound-guided single-injection SAPB in the paediatric population has not been well evaluated, as only a few studies with small sample sizes are available. We searched PubMed, Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang databases and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inception to 31 September 2022 for randomised comparative clinical trials that compared single-injection SAPB with systemic analgesia or different forms of regional analgesia in children. The primary outcomes included postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores within 24 hours. The secondary outcomes included postoperative adverse events, the need for rescue analgesia and the time from the end of surgery to endotracheal tube removal. Five randomised controlled trials with 418 children meeting the inclusion criteria were included. SAPB markedly reduced postoperative opioid consumption up to 24 hours compared with controls (mean difference (MD): -0.29 mg/kg, 95% CI -0.38 to -0.20, I 2 =67%]. The postoperative pain scores were reduced compared with controls: 1 hour (MD -0.6, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.04, I 2 =92%), 4-6 hours (MD -1.16, 95% CI -1.87 to -0.45, I 2 =90%) and 12 hours (MD -0.71, 95% CI -1.35 to -0.08, I 2 =86%). The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was comparable between SAPB and controls. One trial suggested that the analgesic effect of SAPB was comparable to that of ICNB (intercostal nerve block). Single-injection SAPB is associated with a reduction in opioid consumption and pain intensity after cardiothoracic surgery via thoracotomy in children. Due to the high heterogeneity, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation scores were low. Clinical trials with rigorous methodological approaches as well as safety endpoints are needed to confirm these preliminary findings. CRD42021241691.

He Y ，Li Z ，Xu M ，Du B ，Zuo Y ... -  《-》