Study Population and Design
This was a single-center, prospective feasibility study of patients
undergoing SICD implantation from Feb 2020 to Feb 2022 at our
institution. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained (HS#
18-00362; GCO# 18-0776). After providing written informed consent, 24
patients (convenience sample) older than 18 years undergoing SICD
placement at a single center tertiary care hospital were randomly
assigned to either receiving wound filtration or ESP block. Exclusion
criteria included allergy to amide local anesthetics and infection at
the site of injection. All the procedures were performed with
administration of IV sedation with midazolam, fentanyl, and propofol
infusion and supplemental oxygen. Patients refusing the block or
patients requiring general anesthesia for procedural reasons were
excluded. Neither the anesthesiologists performing the block nor the
patients were blinded because there was no placebo block and the blocks
were performed prior to starting sedation. The anesthesiologist
performing the block was different from the anesthesiologist performing
the case. The anesthesiologist performing the case was present during
the performance of the block and, therefore, was not blinded to the
study group.