External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block With or Without Rectus Sheath Block After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Regional fascial plane blocks are used as part of multimodal analgesia after laparoscopicabdominal surgery. The external oblique intercostal plane block may provide analgesia tothe upper anterior and lateral abdominal wall, while the addition of a rectus sheathblock may improve analgesic coverage of the anterior abdominal wall.This single‐center prospective observational cohort study included 104 adult patientsundergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were observed in two cohorts accordingto the regional anesthesia technique they received during routine clinical care:bilateral EOIPB alone or bilateral EOIPB combined with bilateral RSB. The attendinganesthesiologist selected and performed the block technique independently of the studyinvestigators. The investigators did not randomize participants or assign the regionalanesthesia technique.The primary objective was to compare postoperative pain intensity between the two cohortsusing a 0‐10 visual analog scale at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Secondaryassessments included intraoperative remifentanil consumption, postoperative rescueanalgesic consumption during the first 24 hours, perioperative hemodynamic measurements,postoperative nausea and vomiting, other analgesic‐related adverse effects, and patientsatisfaction.Routine perioperative anesthetic management and the standard postoperative analgesicregimen were similar in both cohorts. Additional rescue analgesics were administeredaccording to individual clinical need, and the total rescue analgesic consumption duringthe first 24 postoperative hours was recorded. All study assessments were completedduring the first 24 hours after surgery.