Intermittent Bolus versus Continuous Infusion Erector Spinae Catheters for Median Sternotomy Incisions:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2026

Publication Title

Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia

Keywords

Humans, Double-Blind Method, Postoperative Pain, Female, Prospective Studies, Sternotomy, Male, Anesthetics, Local, Middle Aged, Catheters, Indwelling, Aged, Infusions, Intravenous, Analgesics, Opioid, Ropivacaine, Paraspinal Muscles, Nerve Block

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic efficacy of programmed intermittent boluses (PIB) and continuous infusion via indwelling erector spinae plane (ESP) catheters following open heart surgery. It was hypothesized that the use of PIB would result in superior analgesia compared to continuous infusion of local anesthetics through ESP catheters after cardiac surgery.

DESIGN: An Institutional Review Board-approved parallel-group, prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.

SETTING: A large academic hospital in the midwestern United States.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults undergoing open heart surgery via midline sternotomy and scheduled ESP analgesia with bilateral indwelling catheters.

INTERVENTIONS: Continuous infusion versus PIB of ropivacaine 0.2% via an electronic infusion pump.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was postoperative opioid consumption in oral morphine milligram equivalents (OMME) through 72 hours. The secondary outcomes included postoperative pain intensity on a numerical rating scale, length of stay, quality of recovery (QoR-15), time to first bowel movement, and antiemetic use. A total of 240 participants were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to PIB or continuous infusion. The PIB group had an estimated 1.08-fold greater OMME than the continuous infusion group (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-1.31; p = 0.40). The mean difference was 4.1 OMME greater per day for the PIB group (95% CI, -5.6 to +13.8 mg; p = 0.41). There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In adults undergoing open heart surgery, ESP catheter-based analgesia via PIB did not significantly reduce early postoperative opioid consumption compared to a continuous infusion method.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Double-Blind Method; Postoperative Pain; Female; Prospective Studies; Sternotomy; Male; Anesthetics, Local; Middle Aged; Catheters, Indwelling; Aged; Infusions, Intravenous; Analgesics, Opioid; Ropivacaine; Paraspinal Muscles; Nerve Block

PubMed ID

42420077

Volume

40

Issue

9

First Page

2792

Last Page

2799

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