Comparison between groups for the primary and secondary endpoints
| Study parameters | Group 1 PIB ESPB with saline (n=23) | Group 2 PIB ESPB with ropivacaine (n=27) | P value |
| Primary outcomes | |||
| Total morphine consumption at 48 hours (µg/kg) | 512±560 | 120±320 | 0.03 |
| Patients using rescue analgesia with intravenous morphine within 48 hours after surgery (%) | 41 | 14 | 0.05 |
| Secondary outcomes | |||
| Time to extubation (hours) | 17 (5–20) | 14.5 (4.5–22) | 0.1 |
| First active mobilization after surgery (days) | 1.6±1.6 | 0.9±0.5 | 0.09 |
| Time to drain removal (days) | 1.5±0.7 | 1.2±0.4 | 0.1 |
| First milk bottle after extubation (hour) | 3 (1.6–6) | 2.2 (1.7–3.5) | 0.4 |
| ICU stay (days) | 1.8±2 | 1.2±2 | 0.3 |
| Hospital stay (days) | 6.1±4.3 | 6.7±4.5 | 0.2 |
| COMFORT-B postop | 16±6.8 | 10±3.8 | 0.001 |
| COMFORT-B after extubation | 16±5.5 | 11±3 | 0.001 |
| COMFORT-B on first mobilization | 17±7 | 11±3.2 | 0.001 |
| COMFORT-B at drain removal | 18±8 | 10±4.7 | 0.001 |
| Patients with pain* at extubation (%) | 69 | 33 | 0.01 |
| Patients with pain* at drain removal (%) | 87 | 41 | 0.007 |
Values are median±SD, median (quartiles), or percentage.
Postop means arrival in the ICU.
*Almost moderate pain means FLACC score >3.
COMFORT-B, COMFORT behavior score; ESPB, erector spinae plane block; FLACC, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability; ICU, intensive care unit; PIB, programmed intermittent bolus.