Parasternal vs. Combined Parasternal-Serratus Block in Cardiac Surgery

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of parasternal intercostal plane block (PIPB) alone versus the combination of parasternal intercostal plane block and serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery via sternotomy. Seventy patients will be randomly assigned to two groups: Group A will receive bilateral PIPB, while Group B will receive bilateral PIPB combined with unilateral SAPB on the side of chest drain placement. Postoperative pain will be assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and during movement over the first 24 hours. Secondary outcomes include time to extubation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and time to mobilization. The study is designed as a prospective, single-center, single-blind trial conducted at Akdeniz University Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. We hypothesize that the combined block technique will provide superior analgesia, reduce opioid consumption, and improve recovery parameters compared to PIPB alone