SynthesisObesity surgery2026
Efficacy of Erector Spinae Block on Postoperative Outcomes in Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review, Meta-Regression, and Trial-Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Obesity surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBariatric surgery is effective for severe obesity, but recovery is often complicated by pain, nausea, and high opioid use. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) evaluates the role of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in reducing pain, opioid consumption, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after bariatric surgery.
methodsElectronic databases were systematically searched from their inception to March 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing bilateral ESPB in adults undergoing bariatric surgery. This review included studies which compared ESPB to a control group and reported at least one postoperative outcome. The primary outcome was resting pain at 6 h and 24 h. The mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each study and pooled using a random-effects model. The meta-regression and trial sequential analysis were performed to evaluate the impact of confounding variables and sample size on the pooled estimate. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment tools.
resultsTwelve RCTs (n = 825; ESPB = 412, control = 413) were included. ESPB significantly reduced resting pain at 6 h (MD: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.80 - 2.78; p = 0.0004) and 24 h (MD: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.38-1.79; p = 0.002). Six RCTs (n = 509) reported lower movement-evoked pain at 6 h (MD:1.28; 95% CI: 0.68-1.88; p < 0.0001) and 24 h (MD: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.44-1.14; p < 0.0001). Nine RCTs (n = 673) showed reduced 24-h opioid consumption (MD: 9.0; 95% CI: 2.72 to 15.27, P = 0.005). Five RCTs (n = 448) reported a lower incidence of PONV with ESPB (Risk Ratio: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.08-1.98, p = 0.01). Meta-regression to adjust for baseline confounding factors and trial sequential analysis did not materially alter the results. The risk of bias was low, and the certainty of evidence was rated as moderate to low.
conclusionThis SRMA of RCTs demonstrates that ESPB may significantly reduce postoperative pain, 24-h postoperative opioid consumption, and PONV compared to control in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. However, further RCTs with adequate power, unified protocols, and clearly defined endpoints are warranted.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42096123What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.