Low thoracic erector spinae plane block for perioperative analgesia in transfeminine bottom surgery

Article information

Korean J Anesthesiol. 2020;73(5):460-461
Publication date (electronic) : 2020 February 26
doi : https://doi.org/10.4097/kja.20023
1Department of Anesthesiology, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
2Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
Corresponding author: Luis A. Verduzco, M.D. Department of Anesthesiology, Denver Health Medical Center, MC-0218; 777 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA Tel: +1-303-602-5945 Fax: +1-303-436-6548 Email: luis.verduzco@dhha.org
Received 2020 January 16; Revised 2020 February 17; Accepted 2020 February 22.

Approximately 1 million people in the United States are transgender [1]. Transfeminine bottom surgery (TBS) transforms the male genitalia into that of a female; however, the optimal perioperative anesthetic plan remains undetermined. The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESP) is an interfascial plane block used primarily for post-operative analgesia [2,3]. It is effective in lumbo-sacral surgery [4], thus suggesting a possible role in TBS. We report the use of an ultrasound-guided ESP block as part of a multi-modal analgesic technique to avoid intra-operative opioids and minimize post-operative opioids. The patient provided informed consent to publish the case.

A 32-year-old woman weighing 70 kg (male by sex) with a history of asthma and gender dysphoria was scheduled to undergo orchiectomy, penectomy, clitoroplasty, labiaplasty, and vaginoplasty. In the preoperative area, she received 1000 mg of oral acetaminophen, 600 mg of oral gabapentin, and a scopolamine patch. Upon entering the operating room, she was given 2 mg of intravenous (IV) midazolam for anxiolysis, and she was sat up. Standard monitors were attached, and her back was sterilely prepped; using a low-frequency curvilinear transducer in parasagittal orientation (rC60xi, SonoSite SII, FUJIFILM SonoSite Inc., USA), the right-sided ribs were counted, starting rostrally at the neck until T11 was located. The probe was moved medially to locate the transverse process (TP). Under ultrasound guidance, a 21 g nerve block needle (SonoPlex STIM, Pajunk Medical Systems L.P., USA) was inserted in-plane rostral to caudal until the TP was contacted (Fig. 1A); after aspiration demonstrated no blood return, a bolus of 35 ml of 0.25% plain bupivacaine mixed with 1 : 200.000 epinephrine was injected through the needle. This was repeated on the left side. The ultrasound was then used to demonstrate lung sliding bilaterally (Fig. 1B), confirming no pneumothorax after the nerve block. The patient was laid back and induced with 70 mg IV lidocaine and 100 mg IV propofol followed by 50 mg IV rocuronium; mask ventilation and intubation proceeded uneventfully. During the 4-hour surgery, she was maintained on a propofol drip at 75 μg/kg/min and sevoflurane at an end-tidal concentraion of 1%; as part of a multi-modal regimen, she received dexamethasone 8 mg IV, ketamine 50 mg IV, dexmedetomidine at 0.3 μg/kg/h (total 71 μg), and esmolol at 35–50 μg/kg/min. No opioids were administered, nor additional local anesthetic injected by the surgeon, and 2200 μg of phenylephrine were required to maintain systolic blood pressures in the 90s of mmHg (preoperative blood pressures 116/77 mmHg).

Fig. 1.

Ultrasound view of the patients. (A) The ultrasound image demonstrates the nerve block needle contacting the transverse process, (B) The “sea-shore” sign is present in M-mode, confirming no pneumothorax.

Extubation was uneventful, and the patient complained of minimal pain, specifically, she stated that she had more “gas pain, than surgical pain,” requiring only 50 μg fentanyl, 30 mg ketorolac, and 5 mg oxycodone in the post anesthesia care unit Her post-operative pain regimen included acetaminophen 1000 mg orally every 6 hours and ibuprofen 600 mg orally every 6 hours with breakthrough oxycodone (5–10 mg every 3-4 hours when necessary); on postoperative day (POD) 0, she tolerated food and requested 10 mg oxycodone in addition to simethicone for gas pain. Unfortunately, the patient developed bleeding from her surgical site and required a return to the operating room early on POD 1 for an exam under general anesthesia, during which she received 2 mg IV midazolam, 50 μg IV fentanyl, and 50 mg IV ketamine. No source was found, and she was re-packed and transferred to the floor. Her consequent hospital course was unremarkable, with the patient repeatedly stating her pain was well controlled. She required only 70 mg oxycodone over the next 2.5 days, after which she was discharged home.

TBS involves sensitive anatomy, and beyond a single published abstract suggesting the use of pudendal nerve blocks for post-operative pain control, guidance relies on opinion [5]. There are no previously published cases demonstrating the efficacy of the ESP block for genital surgery, possibly because the innervation involves sacral nerve roots. We used a high volume of local anesthetic to ensure spread; indeed, the ESP block facilitated the minimization of opioids during hospital stay while still affording excellent pain control.

Acknowledgements

This work is supported with resources and the use of facilities at Denver Health Medical Center (Denver, CO, USA). The author thanks Jennifer S Hyer (MD) for her support of the study, Murphy Anderson (CRNA) for his enthusiasm during the case, and Howard J Miller (MD) for ongoing support as the director of our department.

Notes

Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Meerwijk EL, Sevelius JM. Transgender population size in the United States: a meta-regression of population-based probability samples. Am J Public Health 2017;107:e1–8.
2. Forero M, Adhikary SD, Lopez H, Tsui C, Chin KJ. The erector spinae plane block: a novel analgesic technique in thoracic neuropathic pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2016;41:621–7.
3. El-Boghdadly K, Pawa A. The erector spinae plane block: plane and simple. Anaesthesia 2017;72:434–8.
4. Melvin JP, Schrot RJ, Chu GM, Chin KJ. Low thoracic erector spinae plane block for perioperative analgesia in lumbosacral spine surgery: a case series. Can J Anaesth 2018;65:1057–65.
5. Huang TC, Adabi K, Arendt K, Niesen A, Martinez-Jorge J, Sabbagh MD, et al. Pudendal nerve blocks for vaginoplasty in gender confirmation surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2018;6:191–2.

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Fig. 1.

Ultrasound view of the patients. (A) The ultrasound image demonstrates the nerve block needle contacting the transverse process, (B) The “sea-shore” sign is present in M-mode, confirming no pneumothorax.