Lung cancer has the highest incidence of all malignancies worldwide and accounts for approximately 13% of all cancer cases. Lung cancer is still the most common cause of cancer-related deaths, and lung resection surgeries could be the main therapeutic option. Hence, the number of thoracotomy procedures is progressively increasing as is the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain. In addition to amputation and mastectomy, thoracotomy is considered the main etiology of severe and long-term acute and chronic post-surgical pain syndromes (CPSPs). The prevalence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is widely variable (30%-50%) and may range from 11% to 80%, according to other studies.~The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined post-thoracotomy pain syndrome as pain that recurs or persists along the thoracotomy scar at least 2 months after the procedure. In addition, post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is mostly described with neuropathic manifestations along the thoracotomy scar and in the mammary, inframammary, ipsilateral scapular and interscapular areas.~The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a novel technique for thoracic analgesia that promises to be a relatively simple and safe alternative to more complex and invasive techniques of neural blockade.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae plane block compared to Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block on the emergence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer.