Erector-Spinae Plane Block vs. Intravenous Morphine for Hepatopancreaticobiliary Pain in the ED

The EASIER trial investigated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector-spinae plane block (ESPB) compared to intravenous morphine in managing acute hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) pain in the emergency department. Conducted from March to August 2023, this open-label randomized controlled trial involved 70 adult patients with severe HPB pain. Results showed that patients receiving ESPB experienced a significantly greater reduction in pain scores at 1, 3, 5, and 10 hours post-treatment, required less rescue analgesia, and reported higher satisfaction compared to those receiving morphine. The study concludes that ESPB may be a promising alternative to opioids for managing severe HPB pain in the ED.