To the Editor:

We read with great interest the article published by Yörükoğlu et al. in the Journal of Anesthesia [1]. They evaluated supplemental erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in patients with lumbar disc herniation undergoing microdiscectomy. They also compared the effectiveness of ESPB to that of standard anesthesia in terms of morphine use in the acute postoperative period. The results of this study were easy to understand and appropriately described. Ultrasound-guided ESPB is being increasingly used for multimodal management of perioperative pain all over the world [2].

The study by Yörükoğlu et al. raised a fundamental question: is there a need for bilateral ESPB during this back surgery? The study recruited 60 participants undergoing single-level lumbar microdiscectomy. Less invasive back surgery is preferable for early recovery and reduced pain. Advanced surgeries, such as full-endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy, are performed under regional instead of general anesthesia [3]. Microdiscectomy involves peeling off the erector muscles from the vertebrae in the supine position under general anesthesia. However, surgical manipulation is limited to the side of the incision, which reduces the pain and invasiveness of the procedure. Conversely, standard fusion surgery requires bilateral surgical manipulation.

If ESPB is applied only on the surgical side, the dose of local anesthetic could be increased at this site without the local anesthetic toxicity. Increasing the anesthetic dose or the injection volume may result in wide the analgesic area (e.g., during multi-level ESPB) [4]. One of the most significant advantages of regional anesthesia is that the area and duration of analgesia can be modified by changing the anesthetic volume or using a supplemental catheter.

ESPB, a novel technique, may be appropriate for managing perioperative pain in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery from the perspective of anatomical approaching [5]. Further studies are required to confirm the effectiveness and safety of ESPB.