Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Versus Paravertebral Nerve (PVB) Blockade for Acute Unilateral Rib Fracture Pain

All interventions regarding the placement and management of ESP and paravertebral blocks in this study are consistent with existing standard of care practices at UPMC and utilize protocols that are already in use. In addition, by nature of being included in a research study, patients are likely to receive closer monitoring for side-effects.

Screening and enrollment: After approval by the institutional review board, all (American Society of Anesthesiology) ASA I-IV patients aged 18-85 years, weighing between 50 and 120 kg with unilateral rib fractures will be screened for enrollment. Sixty patients will be enrolled in this randomized prospective study with equal numbers in each arm of the trial. This study design is unblinded as we cannot blind patients nor observers as to the type of block performed (slightly different location). This is an accepted limitation of the study. No advertising will be used and no monetary compensation will be offered. The nature of the study, planned interventions, risks, benefits, and alternatives will be discussed in detail with the patients at the time of enrollment and prior to the patients' signing of a written consent form.

Randomization: Patients will be enrolled into one of the study groups on the day of consultation in an alternating fashion. The study groups are defined as: Group I: Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESP) 30 patients Group II: Paravertebral Block (PVB) 30 patients.

Day of Block: After written informed consent is confirmed, a research assistant will introduce the scoring system used for pain assessment (VAS), and demonstrate proper use of the incentive spirometer.

All nerve blocks will be performed by an experienced member of UPMC's pain management service. Both nerve blocks can take between 10-60 minutes to perform. They will either occur in the ICU or on a monitored medicine floor.

Paravertebral nerve block catheter placement and activation (PVB group only): Paravertebral catheters will be placed according to UPMC standard of care practices as outlined below: After an intravenous catheter has been established and standard monitors and oxygen applied, the patient will be placed in the sitting position. The patient will be administered appropriate sedation based on the discretion of the provider if needed to safely perform the procedure.

Paravertebral technique: With the patient in a sitting position, the point of needle entry will be marked on the skin corresponding to paravertebral catheter placement. The thoracic spine level will be at the anatomic level corresponding to the ribs fractured. The needle entry sites will be 2.5 cm lateral to the midpoint of the spinous process of the corresponding thoracic vertebrae. The area will be prepped and draped in a sterile fashion, and 1% lidocaine infiltrated subcutaneously at each point of anticipated needle entry. For each of the catheter placement, a sterile gauge Tuohy needle will be introduced with ultrasound guidance towards the paravertebral space. After final needle placement, a hanging drop technique will be used to assess for interpleural placement while the patient inhales and exhales deeply. Next 5 mL of ropivicaine 0.5% will be injected incrementally through each needle after negative aspiration under ultrasound visualization, followed by insertion of the nerve block catheter to a depth 5 cm beyond the tip of the needle. An additional 20 mL of ropivicaine 0.5% will then be injected in 5 mL increments with negative aspiration in between, through each catheter yielding a total activation dose of 25 ml of ropivicaine 0.5% via each catheter. The catheters will be secured with Steri-strips and a transparent occlusive dressing. Vital signs will be monitored at regular intervals until the procedure is complete.

Erector spinae catheter placement and activation (ESP group only): An erector spinae plane catheter will be placed according UPMC standard of care practices as outlined below: After an intravenous infusion has been established and standard monitors and oxygen applied, the patient will be placed in the sitting position. The patient will be administered appropriate sedation based on the discretion of the provider if needed to safely perform the procedure.

ESP technique: With the patient in a sitting position, the point of needle entry will be marked on the skin corresponding to the appropriate vertebral level relative to the rib fractures. The area will be prepared and draped in a sterile fashion, and 1% lidocaine infiltrated subcutaneously at the point of anticipated needle entry. A sterile Tuohy needle will be introduced and advanced towards the corresponding transverse process. Hydrodissection will ensure that the proper plane is located. Once the erector spinae musculature is separated from the rib, 25ml of ropivicaine 0.5% will be introduced into the plane under ultrasound guidance. A catheter will be placed to a depth 5 cm beyond the tip of the needle. The catheter will be secured with Steri-strips and a transparent occlusive dressing. Vital signs will be monitored at regular intervals until the procedure is completed.

Paravertebral infusions of Bupivicaine 0.0625% will be titrated to 12 ml/hr maximum for the patients in the paravertebral catheter group (Group PVB). Patients in the ESP group (ESP) will start a continuous infusion of Bupivicaine 0.0625% and titrate to 12 mL/hr maximum as needed for pain. The patients in both groups will also be given access to acetaminophen 1000 mg every 6 hours IV or PO if there is no contraindication. Other adjuncts such as gabapentin, celebrex, ketamine, and opioid analgesics may be adjusted by the physicians involved based on the patients clinical condition. A PCA may be required for opioid pain medication administration initially, and will be continued until the patient is able to tolerate oral pain medication. Additional pain relief is available via nurse-administered 3 mL boluses of 0.0625% bupivacaine via the catheter pumps.

Post nerve block anesthesia protocol: Once on the floors, additional pain relief is available via nurse-administered 3 mL boluses of Bupivicaine via the catheter pumps given no more than hourly. All patients will be assessed daily by members of the acute interventional perioperative pain service. The infusion rates via the paravertebral and ESP catheters may be adjusted at the discretion of the pain service up to a rate of 12 mL/hr on each side (standard infusion rate used at UPMC-Presbyterian). All paravertebral ESP catheters will be stopped and removed as tolerated by the patient or post-procedure day #5, whichever occurs first. Additional pain medication will be available to all patients per standard of care.

ICU (Intensive Care Unit): Patients will be admitted to an intensive care unit at the discretion of the emergency department. Patients who are intubated and sedated, and who are unable to participate medical decision making will not be accepted for this study. If a patient fits the inclusion criteria and is in the ICU, the nerve block will be placed and managed in the ICU as above for all other situations.

Data will be collected daily from the patients until the nerve block is removed or 5 days post-procedure, whichever comes first.

Discharge: The readiness for discharge will be determined by the primary team: This decision will likely include (1) return of respiratory function, (2) hemodynamic stability, (3) normothermia, (4) no clinical evidence of DVT/PE (Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism) which is untreated, (5) pain controlled by oral agents. In addition, actual length of hospital stay will be recorded. Nerve block will be performed and the catheters will be removed according to the ASRA (American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine) guidelines for regional anesthesia catheter placement and removal available on the ASRA website.