Table 2.

Characteristics and Outcomes: ESPB with LB Versus IV Methadone

	Surgery Duration (min)	No. of Levels Fused	Total Inpatient OMEs mg/kg Through POD 3	Average VAS on POD 1	Average VAS on POD 2	Average VAS on POD 3	LOS (min)
Case 1	297	10	1.67	4.4	2.6	6.4	3630
Case 2	242	9	1.85	4.7	5.4	5.1	3830
Methadone group (N = 13, means)	283	9	3.5	3.4	4	3.4	5490

Mean IV methadone dose 0.27 mg/kg.

OMEs = oral morphine equivalents, POD = postoperative day, LOS = length of stay, VAS = visual analog pain scale, ESPB = erector spinae plane blockade, LB = liposomal bupivacaine

A conservative 1:2 ratio was used to convert intravenous methadone to intravenous morphine.²⁰