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Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block: a New Paradigm in Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia

  • Regional Anesthesia (P Kukreja, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Anesthesiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is an ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia technique that has enjoyed unprecedented popularity since its description in 2016. This review summarizes the applied anatomy, technical performance, and clinical application of the ESP block.

Recent Findings

Dissection and imaging studies indicate that paravertebral local anesthetic spread is a primary mechanism of action of the ESP block. A large volume of case report literature supports its efficacy in myriad clinical settings, including thoracic surgery, thoracic trauma, cardiac surgery, abdominal surgery, spine surgery, and painful conditions of the upper and lower limbs. Several randomized controlled trials have also been published that report significant analgesic benefit compared with systemic analgesia alone.

Summary

The ESP block is a highly effective and versatile technique for the management of acute and chronic pain. Further studies are needed to definitively determine its efficacy compared with more established techniques.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, McL 2-405, 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada

    Ki Jinn Chin

  2. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA

    Sanjib Das Adhikary

  3. Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Mauricio Forero

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  1. Ki Jinn Chin
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  2. Sanjib Das Adhikary
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  3. Mauricio Forero
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Correspondence to Ki Jinn Chin.

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Ki Jinn Chin, Sanjib Das Adhikary, and Mauricio Forero declare they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Regional Anesthesia

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Chin, K.J., Adhikary, S.D. & Forero, M. Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block: a New Paradigm in Regional Anesthesia and Analgesia. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 9, 271–280 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-019-00333-0

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