Open AccessUnpredictable Injectate Spread of the Erector Spinae Plane Block in Human Cadavers
Author(s) -
Karin H W Dautzenberg,
Marissa J Zegers,
Chris P. Bleeker,
Edward Tan,
Kris Vissers,
GeertJan van Geffen,
Selina E I van der Wal
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000004187
Subject(s) - medicine , cadaver , erector spinae muscles , anatomy , vertebra , thoracic vertebrae , fascia , lumbar vertebrae , lumbar
We performed bilateral ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane blocks at the second and eighth thoracic vertebrae in 11 fresh frozen cadavers. Methylene blue dye spread variably and extensively deep to the erector spinae muscles fascia with involvement of the spinal rami and paravertebral space in 1 of 11 cadavers when injected at the eighth thoracic vertebra, and in 4 of 11 cadavers at the second thoracic vertebra, with crossover to the contralateral side of the spine. Our study demonstrates that in cadavers, an erector spinae plane block follows the fascial planes with unpredictable spread, which might explain its varying clinical efficacy.