Comparison Between Efficacies of Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block Versus Local Infiltration of Wound with Bupivacaine after Thyroidectomy

Namra Khan; Abid Khan; Ali Mazhar Rizvi; Usman Eijaz Malik; Asjad Sharif; Majid Aziz

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v75i6.10877

Authors

Namra Khan Department of Anesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Abid Khan Department of Anesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Ali Mazhar Rizvi Department of Anesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Usman Eijaz Malik Department of Anesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Asjad Sharif Department of Anesthesia, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
Majid Aziz Department of Surgery, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i6.10877

Keywords:

Bupivacaine, Superficial Cervical Plexus Block, Thyroidectomy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness between two pain management techniques, BSCPB (Bilateral Superficial Cervical Plexus Block) and Local Wound Infiltration, in alleviating post-operative pain.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Feb to Jul 2023.

Methodology: The study enrolled 68 patients, aged between 20 and 68 years, who were scheduled to undergo total thyroidectomy. The patients were randomly assigned to either Group B, which consisted of 34 patients undergoing a bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB), or Group L, which comprised 34 patients undergoing infiltration of local anesthesia after the induction of anesthesia. The severity of pain at 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours, as well as the total analgesic consumption within 24 hours after surgery were the primary outcome variable.

Results: In Group L, 23(67.6%) patients had Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) >4 after first 6 hours post-surgery and only 11(32.4%) patients had VAS <4 (p-value=0.002), indicating a significant difference. After 12 hours of surgery, 12(35.3%) Group B patients has VAS >4 and 22(64.7%) patients has VAS≤4 but 29(85.3%) Group L patients had VAS >4 and only 5(14.7%) patients had VAS ≤4 with p-value <0.001.

Conclusion: Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB) under ultrasound guidance considerably improved analgesia after thyroidectomy and reduced opioid requirements.

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