A randomised controlled trial of the non‐inferiority of erector spinae plane block vs. thoracic paravertebral block for laparoscopic nephro‐ureterectomy

Summary Erector spinae plane block and paravertebral block can provide analgesia for abdominal surgery. It is unclear whether erector spinae block is inferior to paravertebral block. We aimed to determine whether sufentanil dose and pain intensity (11‐point scale) to 24 h after erector spinae block exceeded those after paravertebral block by no more than 5 μg and 1 point, respectively. We randomly allocated 166 adults to 0.4 ml.kg −1 ropivacaine 0.375% before scheduled laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, 83 each to erector spinae or paravertebral injection. We measured incision pain and intra‐abdominal pain at rest and on movement 0.5 h, 2 h, 6 h, 18 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery. Median (IQR [range]) cumulative sufentanil dose after erector spinae block was 15 (5–30 [0–105]) μg vs. 20 (10–50 [0–145]) μg after paravertebral block, median (95%CI) difference 5 μg (0–10), erector spinae non‐inferiority p < 0.001. Median (IQR [range]) pain were 1.5 (1.0–2.0 [0.0–5.3]) after erector spinae block vs. 2.0 (1.0–2.5 [0.0–6.0]) after paravertebral block, median (95% CI) difference 0.3 (0.0–0.5), erector spinae non‐inferiority p < 0.001. Adverse events did not differ between groups. Erector spinae block analgesia was not inferior to paravertebral block analgesia after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy.