Analgesia por bloqueio plano eretor da espinha em toracotomias: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

The erector spinae plane block is a regional anesthesia technique first described in 2016, standing out for its simplicity, safety, and broad applicability. It can be performed at different levels of the spine, either as a single injection or through continuous infusion, and is useful in the management of both acute and chronic pain. Its use in thoracotomies has gained relevance due to the intense pain associated with this invasive procedure. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the benefits of the erector spinae plane block in promoting analgesia in patients undergoing thoracotomy, through a systematic literature review based on PRISMA guidelines, seeking to answer the guiding question: In patients undergoing thoracotomy, what are the benefits of the erector spinae plane block in promoting analgesia? The search for articles was conducted in ScienceDirect and PubMed, including national and international publications that directly addressed the subject, written in Portuguese or English, and published between 2019 and 2025. Publications prior to 2019, duplicates across databases, unavailable or incomplete full texts, as well as reviews, internship reports, book reviews, expanded abstracts, and dissertations unrelated to the study objectives were excluded, in addition to studies involving pediatric procedures. Methodological quality was assessed using the CASP tool. A total of 72 articles were identified in the ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. After removing duplicates, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, and reading the full texts, 10 studies were selected for review. According to the findings of this research, it is concluded that the erector spinae plane block is an effective and safe alternative for pain management in patients undergoing thoracotomy. Consistently, studies demonstrate that this technique provides adequate analgesia, reduces the need for opioids, facilitates early mobilization, and improves respiratory function, contributing to faster postoperative recovery and a lower risk of complications.