Clinical Research Directory

Comparison of the Rhomboid Intercostal Block and Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is widely performed for the management of various thoracic pathologies and is generally associated with reduced surgical trauma compared with open thoracotomy. Nevertheless, patients may still experience considerable postoperative pain, which can adversely affect respiratory function, mobilization, and recovery. Various regional analgesic techniques have been incorporated into multimodal pain management strategies for VATS, including thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB), erector spinae plane block (ESPB), intercostal nerve block, serratus anterior plane block (SAPB), rhomboid intercostal block (RIB), and serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB). Among these approaches, ultrasound-guided TPVB has traditionally been regarded as a reference regional analgesic technique. More recently, interfascial plane blocks have gained increasing attention because of their technical simplicity and favorable safety profile. RIB and SPSIPB are two novel interfascial plane blocks that may provide effective postoperative analgesia following thoracic surgery. The present study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of RIB and SPSIPB in patients undergoing VATS and to evaluate their impact on postoperative pain outcomes.