Background: Although thoracoscopic sympathectomy is made via small incisions, it is associated with severe postoperative pain. Both Rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) and Retrolaminar block (RLB) are recent techniques used for pain control after such procedures
Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of RIB and RLB in providing postoperative analgesia after thoracoscopic sympathectomy in adult patients and their impact on the patient's outcomes.
Patients and Methods: This prospective, randomized (1:1), double-blind clinical trial; will be carried out on 60 patients scheduled for elective thoracoscopic sympathectomy under general anesthesia at our hospital. Patients will be randomly allocated into two equal groups (30 patients each) and will receive: in group A; general anesthesia with intraoperative ipsilateral ultrasound-guided RIB, whereas in group B; general anesthesia with intraoperative ipsilateral ultrasound-guided RLB.
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≤ II
Age from 18 to 60 years
Body Mass Index (BMI) < 35 kg/m²
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status > II
Age < 18 years or > 60 years
Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35
Local infection at the puncture site