Efficacy of Ultrasound Guided PIFB Versus Lidocaine Infusion on Postoperative Pain After Sternotomy

Ultrasound-guided Pecto-intercostal Fascial Block (PIFB) has been advocated by some researchers for cardiac surgery. Pecto-intercostal fascial plane block (PIFB) is a novel, minimally invasive, regional fascial plane block technique. PIFB was first described by de la Torre in patients undergoing breast surgery . PIFB targets the anterior intercostal nerves as they run in the fascial plane between the pectoral and the intercostal muscles and emerge on either side of the sternum. Also, lidocaine, a short-acting local anesthetic, has been proved to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects . The application of lidocaine by continuous infusion in the intraoperative period and immediately after the surgery appears to reduce the immediate postoperative pain, and may prevent the PSPS