Effect of Superficial Cervical Plexus Block on the Postoperative Quality of Recovery (QoR Trial)

Pain and discomfort after anterior cervical spine surgery is difficult to quantify and quoted as moderate in severity, often needing oral opioid analgesics. In addition, these patients are more prone for postoperative respiratory complication due to airway edema secondary to surgical retraction or wound hematoma. Opioid analgesics provide good pain control but postoperative nausea and vomiting and respiratory depression are undesirable in these patients who are at risk for postoperative wound hematoma and airway edema The use of multimodal analgesia is rapidly becoming the 'standard of care' for preventing pain after ambulatory procedures at most surgery centers throughout the world . The purpose of this study is to determine whether superficial cervical plexus block will improve the postoperative quality of recovery as measured by Quality of Recovery 40 questionnaire (QoR-40) in patients undergoing elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.