Interfascial plane blocks—mechanisms and role in clinical practice: a narrative review

Interfascial plane blocks have become widely used over the past decade. Their popularity is associated with relative simplicity of administration and a good analgesic effect. However, these techniques remain insufficiently studied both in terms of fundamental medical understanding and their clinical application. A search for available publications using relevant keywords in Russian and English was conducted in the PubMed, eLibrary, and CyberLeninka databases to evaluate analytically the theoretical aspects and clinical relevance of these anesthesia techniques. As of the end of 2024, a total of 1833 sources were identified in PubMed using the keyword phrase fascial block. In the Russian-language databases eLibrary and CyberLeninka, 276 articles were found using the keywords: фасциальные блокады (fascial blocks) and межфасциальные блокады (interfascial blocks). The first descriptions of block techniques and initial results in English appeared in the late 1990s; however, most publications, including those in Russian, have emerged within the past 9–10 years. Only a few articles are dedicated solely to the theoretical rationale of fascial plane blocks, whereas the predominant topic is their clinical application. A distinct concern is the limited amount of data on complications and adverse events associated with these regional anesthesia techniques. According to published findings, interfascial plane blocks are relatively easy to perform, offer effective analgesia and opioid-sparing benefits, and are associated with minimal side effects. Nevertheless, further research, including multicenter randomized trials, is required to better understand the clinical anatomy and physiology underlying interfascial plane blocks.