For perioperative teams managing post-cardiac surgery pain, new evidence supports the integration of regional nerve blocks into standard practice. The EPOCH CardioLink-10 trial identified three key clinical advantages of bilateral SPIP blocks with ropivacaine: first, a clinically meaningful 25% reduction in opioid requirements during the critical first 48 hours; second, significantly improved pain control at rest and with movement; and third, accelerated extubation timelines. These outcomes carry practical implications for patient safety and resource utilisation. By reducing opioid exposure, regional anaesthesia may lower the risk of opioid-related complications while improving pulmonary recovery and mobilisation. The technique is performed under ultrasound guidance, making it accessible to trained anaesthetists in multicentre settings. Evidence-based adoption of this approach could reshape post-cardiac surgery pain management protocols. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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