Clinical impact of fascial plane blocks: defining the research agenda

Editor—Fascial plane blocks are frequently used to provide perioperative analgesia in conjunction with multimodal analgesia approaches. 1 Kim D.H. Kim S.J. Liu J. Beathe J. Memtsoudis S.G. Fascial plane blocks: a narrative review of the literature. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021; 46: 600-617 Crossref PubMed Scopus (19) Google Scholar ,2 Chin K.J. Lirk P. Hollmann M.W. Schwarz S.K.W. Mechanisms of action of fascial plane blocks: a narrative review. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021; 46: 618-628 Crossref PubMed Scopus (54) Google Scholar Local anaesthetics are typically injected into the fascial space guided by ultrasonography. 3 Chin K.J. Versyck B. Elsharkawy H. Rojas Gomez M.F. Sala-Blanch X. Reina M.A. Anatomical basis of fascial plane blocks. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021; 46: 581-599 Crossref PubMed Scopus (22) Google Scholar ,4 Black N.D. Stecco C. Chan V.W.S. Fascial plane blocks: more questions than answers?. Anesth Analg. 2021; 132: 899-905 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar The fascial plane, comprising the nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues, has the ability to expand to create a space. Utilisation of various truncal fascial plane blocks has recently received considerable attention (Fig. 1). 4 Black N.D. Stecco C. Chan V.W.S. Fascial plane blocks: more questions than answers?. Anesth Analg. 2021; 132: 899-905 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar , 5 Finnerty D.T. McMahon A. McNamara J.R. Hartigan S.D. Griffin M. Buggy D.J. Comparing erector spinae plane block with serratus anterior plane block for minimally invasive thoracic surgery: a randomised clinical trial. Br J Anaesth. 2020; 125: 802-810 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (88) Google Scholar , 6 Huang X. Wang J. Zhang J. Kang Y. Sandeep B. Yang J. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block improves analgesia after laparoscopic hepatectomy: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2022; 129: 445-453 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar , 7 El Sherif F.A. Mohamed S.A. Kamal S.M. The effect of morphine added to bupivacaine in ultrasound guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for postoperative analgesia following lower abdominal cancer surgery, a randomized controlled study. J Clin Anesth. 2017; 39: 4-9 Crossref PubMed Scopus (17) Google Scholar , 8 Hu J. Wang Q. Zeng Y. Xu M. Gong J. Yang J. The impact of ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block combined with local infiltration analgesia for arthroplasty on postoperative pain relief. J Clin Anesth. 2021; 73110372 Crossref Scopus (19) Google Scholar , 9 Mosaffa F. Taheri M. Manafi Rasi A. Samadpour H. Memary E. Mirkheshti A. Comparison of pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block with fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) for pain control in hip fractures: a double-blind prospective randomized controlled clinical trial. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2022; 108103135 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar Using bibliometric methods, we analysed research hotspots, clinical applications, future trends, and research directions in fascial plane blocks from 2002 to 2023.