Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Surg., 20 March 2023
Sec. Cardiovascular Surgery
This article is part of the Research Topic Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine: Rising Stars 2022 View all 75 articles

Effect of pecto-intercostal fascial block on extubation time in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial

\r\nLu WangLu Wang1Luyang JiangLuyang Jiang1Ling XinLing Xin1Bailin JiangBailin Jiang1Yu ChenYu Chen2Yi Feng
\r\nYi Feng1*
  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
  • 2Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China

Objectives: Epidural and paravertebral block reduce the extubation time in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia but are relatively contraindicated in heparinized patients due to the potential risk of hematoma. The Pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) is an alternative in such patients.

Methods: This is a single-center randomized controlled trial. Patients scheduled for elective open cardiac surgery were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive PIFB (30 ml 0.3% ropivacaine plus 2.5 mg dexamethasone on each side) or saline (30 ml normal saline on each side) after induction of general anesthesia. The primary outcome was extubation time after surgery. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption during surgery, postoperative pain scores, adverse events related to opioids, and length of stay in the hospital.

Results: A total of 50 patients (mean age: 61.8 years; 34 men) were randomized (25 in each group). The surgeries included sole coronary artery bypass grafting in 38 patients, sole valve surgery in three patients, and both procedures in the remaining nine patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 20 (40%) patients. The time to extubation was 9.4 ± 4.1 h in the PIFB group vs. 12.1 ± 4.6 h in the control group (p = 0.031). Opioid (sufentanil) consumption during surgery was 153.2 ± 48.3 and 199.4 ± 51.7 μg, respectively (p = 0.002). In comparison to the control group, the PIFB group had a lower pain score while coughing (1.45 ± 1.43 vs. 3.00 ± 1.71, p = 0.021) and a similar pain score at rest at 12 h after surgery. The two groups did not differ in the rate of adverse events.

Conclusions: PIFB decreased the time to extubation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Trial Registration: This trial is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100052743) on November 4, 2021.

Introduction

Increased pain control and lower dosage of opioid agents with regional techniques are an important part of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program in cardiac surgery (1). However, thoracic epidurals or paravertebral blockade are relatively contraindicated in heparinized patients due to the risk of hematoma, meanwhile, carrying underlying complications such as perioperative hypotension (2).

Sensory input from the chest wall mainly travels in the thoracic intercostal nerves; these nerves can be blocked by parasternal intercostal block, transverse thoracic muscle plane block (TTMPB), and pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) (3). The parasternal intercostal block requires repeated punctures (4). The TTMPB has been shown to be efficacious in cardiac surgery (5, 6), but the transverse thoracic muscles are fairly thin and difficult to identify under ultrasound guidance. TTMPB is also prone to stimulate the pleura due to the relatively deep location of transverse thoracic muscles (7). PIFB is technically less challenging than TTMPB, and has been shown in a previous trial to possess comparable analgesic efficacy to the TTMPB in the area innervated by the anterior branches of the intercostal nerve (Th2-6), and thus useful in cardiac surgery (8). We conducted a single-center randomized controlled trial to test the hypothesis that PIFB facilitates early extubation by reducing intraoperative opioid consumption in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Results are reported below.

Methods and materials

This trial was conducted in the Peking University People's Hospital from 22 November 2021 to 18 March 2022. The trial protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Peking University People's Hospital (#2021PHB237-001) and is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2100052743; November 4, 2021). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Participants

Adult patients (18 to 75 years of age) scheduled to undergo elective cardiac surgery with a full median sternotomy were eligible. Key exclusion criteria included: (1) known allergy to ropivacaine; (2) coagulation disorders; (3) infection at the puncture site; (4) psychical problems; and (5) a history of opioid abuse.

Randomization, concealment, and blinding

Eligible patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive PIFB (30-ml 0.3% ropivacaine plus 2.5-mg dexamethasone on each side) or normal saline just after intubation before surgery. The randomization sequence was generated using a personal computer in a variable block size of 4 or 6. Concealment was conducted using opaque, sealed envelopes. Attending anesthesiologists, patients, and outcome assessors were blinded to the group allocation.

PIFB and control procedure

Bilateral PIFB was conducted in the supine position under ultrasound guidance after anesthesia induction. A high-frequency linear ultrasound probe (EPIQ7C, PHILIPS, Holland) was placed 2–3 cm lateral to the edge of the sternum to identify the pectoralis major muscle, intercostal muscle, internal thoracic vessels, and transversus thoracis muscle (Figure 1). Local anesthetics were injected into the fascial plane between the intercostal and pectoralis muscle, as previously described (9). A 21-gauge needle was inserted into the interfacial plane between the pectoralis major muscle and intercostal muscle at the fourth intercostal space using an in-plane technique. After verifying needle placement (visualizing the muscle separation upon injection of 2 ml saline), 30 ml 0.3% ropivacaine containing 2.5 mg dexamethasone was delivered to each side. Patients in the control group received 30 ml of normal saline.

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. Procedures of PIFB. (A) patient positioning, longitudinal transducer, and needle orientation during PIFB. (B) anatomical location of PIFB on ultrasound (between the fourth and fifth ribs beside the sternum). (C) dissemination of local anesthetics with the movement of a needle (arrow). IM, intercostal muscle; LA, local anesthetics; PIFB, pecto-intercostal fascial block; PL, pleura; PMM, pectoralis major muscle; R4, fourth rib; R5; fifth rib; STM, sternum; and TTM, transversus thoracis muscle.

Anesthesia

All patients were sedated with midazolam (0.02–0.03 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced with 0.2–0.4 mg/kg etomidate, 1–1.5 μg/kg sufentanil, and 0.2–0.3 mg/kg cisatracurium. Anesthesia maintenance was performed with propofol (100–200 mg/h), sevoflurane (0.8%–1.5%), dexmedetomidine (24–40 ug/h), and cisatracurium (6–10 mg/h) according to clinical needs to guarantee a bispectral index of approximately 45–55. Bolus sufentanil (0.3–0.5 μg/kg) was given upon an increase of blood pressure or heart rate by >10% over the baseline. Intravenous tropisetron (5 mg) was used to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) at the end of surgery. After surgery, patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for further management.

Postoperative analgesia

All patients received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with a standard regimen of hydromorphone (no basal infusion, 0.2 mg bolus, and 10-minute lockout intervals). Postoperative pain was assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale (NRS) (0 for no pain, 10 for the worst pain) at rest and upon coughing at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery. A polypill consisting of oxycodone (5 mg) and acetaminophen (325 mg) was given as rescue analgesia for moderate to severe breakthrough pain for both groups. Intravenous tropisetron (5 mg) was used to treat PONV after surgery.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was time to extubation (from completion of surgery to successful extubation). The timing of the extubation attempt was decided by the ICU staff using the following set of criteria: (1) fully awake with stable spontaneous ventilation; (2) stable hemodynamics with minimal inotropic support; and (3) warm peripheries. Secondary outcomes included intra-operative opioid consumption, hydromorphone consumption within 24 h, pain score at rest and upon coughing at 12, 24, and 48 h, moderate-to-severe pain (pain score of 4 or greater at any time within 48 h), time to drainage tube removal, and length of stay (LOS) in the ICU and hospital. Opioid-related adverse events included PONV, urinary retention, dizziness, and pruritus within 48 h.

Statistical analysis

Sample size estimation was based on the following assumptions: (1) time to extubation of 12.4 ± 4.1 h in the control group and 9.0 ± 4.0 h in the PIFB group, based on a pilot trial that consisted of seven patients in each group; (2) β at 0.20 and α at 0.05; and (3) rate of 5%. The calculation yielded 50 subjects (25 in each group). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of continuous variables. Continuous variables other than pain score were analyzed using the Student's t-test. Pain score was analyzed using analysis of variance for repeated measures, with the Geisser-Greenhouse correction and Sidak's test for comparisons at each time point. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05 (2-sided). All statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism version 9.0.

Results

A total of 63 patients were screened; 50 (mean age: 61.8 years; 34 men and 16 women) were randomized (25 in each group; Figure 2). The types of surgery included coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in 38 patients, valve repair in three patients, and CABG plus valve repair in the remaining nine patients. The surgery was conducted under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 20 patients. The demographic and baseline characteristics of participants are shown in Table 1.

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2. Patient flow through the trial.

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Demographic and baseline characteristics.

Intubation and extubation were successful in the first attempt in all 50 patients. The time to extubation was 9.4 ± 4.1 h in the PIFB group vs. 12.1 ± 4.6 h in the control group (p = 0.031; Table 2). Total sufentanil consumption during the surgery was 153.2 ± 48.3 μg in the PIFB group vs. 199.4 ± 51.7 μg in the control group (p = 0.002). The PIFB and control groups did not differ in time to drainage removal (81.8 ± 23.7 vs. 76.9 ± 11.4 h, p = 0.350) and LOS in ICU (33.2 ± 24.7 vs. 37.0 ± 26.7 h, p = 0.604) or hospital (10.3 ± 5.3 vs. 10.1 ± 6.3 days, p = 0.904).

TABLE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. Primary and secondary outcomes.

Pain scores at rest did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.137; Figure 3). Pain scores upon coughing were lower in the PIFB group than in the control group (p = 0.048). Post-hoc Sidak's test showed a lower pain score upon coughing at 12 h in the PIFB group (1.45 ± 1.43 vs. 3.00 ± 1.71 in the control; p = 0.021), and no significant difference at either 24 or 48 h. The two groups did not differ in the rate of moderate to severe pain (20% vs. 40%, p = 0.123), 24-h hydromorphone consumption (1.9 ± 1.3 mg in the PIFB group vs. 2.1 ± 1.7 mg in the control, p = 0.740), and opioid-related adverse events (44% vs. 36%, p = 0.564).

FIGURE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 3. Postoperative pain score. (A) at rest. (B) upon coughing. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA, followed by Sidak's multiple comparisons for each time point. Data are shown as mean ± standard error of the mean. *p < 0.05. NRS, numeric rating scale and PIFB,pecto-intercostal fascial block.

Discussion

This trial demonstrated that PIFB performed before surgery can shorten extubation time in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery. Total opioid consumption during the surgery was lower in the PIFB group than in the control. PIFB also lowered pain score upon coughing at 12 h after surgery.

PIFB, as a novel fascial plane block, has been increasingly used in perioperative anesthesia and analgesia in non-cardiac surgery (1012). Two randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that postoperative PIFB attenuates postoperative pain and reduces postoperative opioid consumption after cardiac surgery, but did not affect the duration of mechanical ventilation (13, 14). Such a finding was not surprising since PIFB was given after the surgery. Another trial reported decreased time to extubation by PIFB (15), but was not sufficiently powered since time to extubation was a secondary outcome.

The decrease in extubation time in the PIFB group in the current trial was approximately 3 h (from 12.1 ± 4.6 to 9.4 ± 4.1 h). Effect of such a magnitude is clinically relevant since early extubation in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries has been associated with improved oxygenation after cardiac surgery (16), and shorter stay in both the ICU and hospital (17, 18). In contrast, prolonged endotracheal intubation increases the incidence of dysphagia and postoperative pulmonary complications (19, 20).

Risk factors for a prolonged extubation time after cardiac surgery include older age, higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) (21). Reducing the use of anesthetics during cardiac surgery, particularly opioid agents, is a major strategy for promoting early extubation (22). Cardiac surgery with median sternotomy causes severe postoperative pain and requires very high doses of opioid agents, which in turn are associated with a series of opioid-related adverse events, e.g., respiratory depression and extended sedation. A previous trial demonstrated that PIFB when given prior to surgery could decrease the time to extubation, most likely by reducing intraoperative opioid consumption (15). Consistent with this notion, total intraoperative sufentanil consumption in the PIFB group was decreased by approximately 25% (from 199.4 ± 51.7 to 153.2 ± 48.3 μg) in our trial.

There was no difference in pain scores at rest between the two groups. Pain scores upon coughing were lower in the PIFB group than in the control group at 12 h (1.45 ± 1.43 vs. 3.00 ± 1.71 in the control; p = 0.021), and not significantly different at either 24 or 48 h. There was no difference in hydromorphone consumption within 24 h after surgery (1.9 ± 1.3 vs. 2.1 ± 1.7 mg, p = 0.740). The analgesic effects of PIFB lasted for 12 h after surgery in our trial. In patients requiring prolonged analgesic effects, continuous PIFB using an implanted catheter has been shown to provide analgesia over a period of 3 days (23). Physicians should balance analgesia and adverse effects to achieve better pain management (24). The two groups did not differ significantly in adverse events, including those related to opioid agents, within 48 h. LOS in the ICU and hospital also did not differ between the two groups. The lack of difference may be due to the relatively small sample size.

This trial has several limitations. First, the extubation time is decided by ICU staff using a set of subjective criteria, instead of a group of trained investigators. Such a design may introduce uncertainty to the data in a small trial even though ICU staff were unaware of the group allocation. Time to extubation exceeded 6 h even in the PIFB group. More attempts and practices may be needed to make the concept of early recovery after cardiac surgery accepted by clinicians. However, our findings indicated that the time to extubation was reduced. Second, PIFB was conducted after anesthesia induction (to maximize patient comfort). Accordingly, successful nerve blocks were uncertain in individual patients.

Conclusions

PIFB decreased the time to extubation in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery, possibly due to lower requirements for intraoperative opioid consumption.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ethical Review Committee of Peking University People's Hospital. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.

Author contributions

YF was responsible for the overall content as guarantor. LW drafted the manuscript. LJ and YC recruited the participants. LX and BJ analyzed the data. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Acknowledgments

We thank Ting Hai, Zhou Zhao, and Wei Yang for their helpful discussions.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

1. Engelman DT, Ben Ali W, Williams JB, Perrault LP, Reddy VS, Arora RC, et al. Guidelines for perioperative care in cardiac surgery: enhanced recovery after surgery society recommendations. JAMA Surg. (2019) 154:755–66. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.1153

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Smith LM, Barrington MJ. St Vincent's hospital M. Ultrasound-guided blocks for cardiovascular surgery: which block for which patient? Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. (2020) 33:64–70. doi: 10.1097/ACO.0000000000000818

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Kelava M, Alfirevic A, Bustamante S, Hargrave J, Marciniak D. Regional anesthesia in cardiac surgery: an overview of fascial plane chest wall blocks. Anesth Analg. (2020) 131:127–35. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004682

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Bloc S, Perot BP, Gibert H, Law Koune J-D, Burg Y, Leclerc D, et al. Efficacy of parasternal block to decrease intraoperative opioid use in coronary artery bypass surgery via sternotomy: a randomized controlled trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. (2021) 46:671–8. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2020-102207

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

5. Aydin ME, Ahiskalioglu A, Ates I, Tor IH, Borulu F, Erguney OD, et al. Efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus thoracic muscle plane block on postoperative opioid consumption after cardiac surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. (2020) 34:2996–3003. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2020.06.044

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Cakmak M, Isik O. Transversus thoracic muscle plane block for analgesia after pediatric cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. (2021) 35:130–6. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2020.07.053

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Han Q, Wang L, Jiang L, Feng Y, Chen Y, Chen S, et al. Tachy-brady syndrome induced by a transversus thoracis muscle plane block. J Clin Anesth. (2021) 73:110327. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110327

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Kaya C, Dost B, Dokmeci O, Yucel SM, Karakaya D. Comparison of ultrasound-guided pecto-intercostal fascial block and transversus thoracic muscle plane block for acute poststernotomy pain management after cardiac surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind pilot study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. (2022) 36:2313–21. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2021.09.041

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. de la Torre PA, Garcia PD, Alvarez SL, Miguel FJ, Perez MF. A novel ultrasound-guided block: a promising alternative for breast analgesia. Aesthet Surg J. (2014) 34:198–200. doi: 10.1177/1090820X13515902

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Hong B, Yoon SH, Youn AM, Kim BJ, Song S, Yoon Y. Thoracic interfascial nerve block for breast surgery in a pregnant woman: a case report. Korean J Anesthesiol. (2017) 70:209–12. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2017.70.2.209

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Koller MP, Cortez D, Kim TW. Nerve blocks for postoperative pain management in children receiving subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: a case series. A&A Pract. (2021) 15:e01520. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001520

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

12. Jones J, Murin PJ, Tsui JH. Opioid free postoperatively using pecto-intercostal fascial block (PIFB) with multimodal analgesia (MMA) in a patient with myasthenia gravis underwent thymectomy via sternotomy. J Clin Anesth. (2020) 59:32–3. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2019.06.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Kumar AK, Chauhan S, Bhoi D, Kaushal B. Pectointercostal fascial block (PIFB) as a novel technique for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. (2021) 35:116–22. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2020.07.074

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Khera T, Murugappan KR, Leibowitz A, Bareli N, Shankar P, Gilleland S, et al. Ultrasound-guided pecto-intercostal fascial block for postoperative pain management in cardiac surgery: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. (2021) 35:896–903. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2020.07.058

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Zhang Y, Gong H, Zhan B, Chen S. Effects of bilateral pecto-intercostal fascial block for perioperative pain management in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery: a prospective randomized study. BMC Anesthesiol. (2021) 21:175. doi: 10.1186/s12871-021-01391-w

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

16. McDonald SB, Jacobsohn E, Kopacz DJ, Desphande S, Helman JD, Salinas F, et al. Parasternal block and local anesthetic infiltration with levobupivacaine after cardiac surgery with desflurane: the effect on postoperative pain, pulmonary function, and tracheal extubation times. Anesth Analg. (2005) 100:25–32. doi: 10.1213/01.ANE.0000139652.84897.BD

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Meade MO, Guyatt G, Butler R, Elms B, Hand L, Ingram A, et al. Trials comparing early vs late extubation following cardiovascular surgery. Chest. (2001) 120:445S–53S. doi: 10.1378/chest.120.6_suppl.445S

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Konstantakos AK, Lee JH. Optimizing timing of early extubation in coronary artery bypass surgery patients. Ann Thorac Surg. (2000) 69:1842–5. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4975(00)01248-0

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Barker J, Martino R, Reichardt B, Hickey EJ, Ralph-Edwards A. Incidence and impact of dysphagia in patients receiving prolonged endotracheal intubation after cardiac surgery. Can J Surg. (2009) 52:119–24.19399206

PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar

20. Camp SL, Stamou SC, Stiegel RM, Reames MK, Skipper ER, Madjarov J, et al. Quality improvement program increases early tracheal extubation rate and decreases pulmonary complications and resource utilization after cardiac surgery. J Card Surg. (2009) 24:414–23. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2008.00783.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

21. Rajakaruna C, Rogers CA, Angelini GD, Ascione R. Risk factors for and economic implications of prolonged ventilation after cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (2005) 130:1270–7. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2005.06.050

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

22. Cheng DCH, Wall C, Djaiani G, Peragallo RA, Carroll J, Li C, et al. Randomized assessment of resource use in fast-track cardiac surgery 1-year after hospital discharge. Anesthesiology. (2003) 98:651–7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200303000-00013

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Zhang Y, Min J, Chen S. Continuous pecto-intercostal fascial block provides effective analgesia in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Pain Med (Malden, Mass). (2022) 23:440–7. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnab291

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

24. Gan TJ, Lubarsky DA, Flood EM, Thanh T, Mauskopf J, Mayne T, et al. Patient preferences for acute pain treatment. Br J Anaesth. (2004) 92:681–8. doi: 10.1093/bja/aeh123

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: pecto-intercostal fascial block, tracheal extubation, cardiac surgery, pain, analgesia, postoperative

Citation: Wang L, Jiang L, Xin L, Jiang B, Chen Y and Feng Y (2023) Effect of pecto-intercostal fascial block on extubation time in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A randomized controlled trial. Front. Surg. 10:1128691. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1128691

Received: 21 December 2022; Accepted: 23 February 2023;
Published: 20 March 2023.

Edited by:

Bert Vandenberk, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium

Reviewed by:

Ivana Budic, University of Niš, Serbia
Pittarello Demetrio, University Hospital of Padua, Italy
Anneleen Neuts, Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands

© 2023 Wang, Jiang, Xin, Jiang, Chen and Feng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Yi Feng doctor_yifeng@sina.com

Specialty Section: This article was submitted to Heart Surgery, a section of the journal Frontiers in Surgery

Abbreviations NRS, numeric rating scale and PIFB,pecto-intercostal fascial block; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; CABG, coronary artery bypass grafting; CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass; EF, ejection fraction; ERAS, enhanced recovery after surgery; EuroSCORE II, European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II; ICU, intensive care unit; NRS, numeric rating scale; NYHA, New York Heart Association; PCIA, patient-controlled intravenous analgesia; PONV, postoperative nausea and vomiting; PIFB, pecto-intercostal fascial block; TTMPB, transverse thoracic muscle plane block.

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.