Comparison Between Erector Spine Plane Block Versus Subcostal Transverse Abdominal Plane Block for Post-Operative Analgesic in Patient Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in CMH Muzaffarabad AJK

Background: Adequate postoperative analgesia is crucial for enhancing patient ease and recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block and subcostal transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block are two regional anesthesia procedures that have added consideration for their potential to offer effective analgesia. However, a comparative analysis of these blocks in this surgical context was limited.Aim: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of the erector spinae plane block versus the subcostal transverse abdominal plane block for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods: The research was led at CMH muzaffarbad ajk Hospital,from October 2023 to September 2024, involving 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at CMH Muzaffarabad, AJK. Participants were erratically allotted to receive either ESP block or the TAP block. Pain levels were evaluated by means of the visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The total analgesic consumption and the time to first analgesic request was also recorded.Results: The results indicated that patients receiving erector spinae plane block described meaningfully lower pain scores at 1 hour (VAS 2.1 ± 0.8) and 6 hours (VAS 3.5 ± 1.2) postoperatively compared to those receiving TAP block (VAS 3.5 ± 1.0 at 1 hour; VAS 4.5 ± 1.3 at 6 hours). Additionally, the time to first analgesic request was longer in the ESP group (10.5 ± 2.4 hours) associated to TAP set (6.8 ± 1.9 hours). Total analgesic consumption was also significantly lower in the ESP group (30.0 ± 5.5 mg) versus the TAP group (45.0 ± 8.0 mg).Conclusion: The erector spinae plane block provided superior postoperative analgesia compared to subcostal transverse abdominal plane block in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Those findings support use of ESP block as an effective analgesic technique in this surgical population.