The effect of pectointercostal fascial block on stress response in open heart surgery

Background: Activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammatory processes are common forms of stress response. The increased stress response is associated with a higher chance of complications. Open hearth surgery is one of the procedures with a high-stress response. Pectointercostal fascial block (PIFB), as a new pain management option in sternotomy, has the potential to modulate the stress response. Objective: To determine the effect of PIFB on stress response in open heart surgery. Methods: This study was a Randomized Controlled Trial on 40 open heart surgery. Patients were divided into two groups, control (20 patients) and PIFB (20 patients). Primary parameters included basal and postoperative TNF-α, basal and post sternotomy ACTH, and basal, 0, and 24 hours postoperative NLR. Secondary parameters include the amount of opioid use, length of the post-operative ventilator, length of ICU stay, and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperative. Results: The PIFB group had a decrease in ACTH levels with an average change that was not significantly different from the control group (−57.71 ± 68.03 vs. −129.78 ± 140.98). The PIFB group had an average change in TNFα levels and an average increase in NLR 0 hours postoperative that was not significantly lower than the control group (TNFα: −0.52 ± 1.31 vs. 0.54 ± 1.76; NLR: 12.80 ± 3.51 vs. 14.82 ± 4.23). PIFB significantly reduced the amount of opioid use during surgery, NRS at 6, 12, and 24 hours, and the length of post-operative ventilator use (P < 0.05, CI: 95%). Conclusion: PIFB has a good role in reducing the stress response of open heart surgery and producing good clinical outcomes.