# Fascial Plane Blocks for Analgesia in Non-Operating Room Anesthesia Settings

## TL;DR

Fascial plane blocks are being increasingly used in non-surgery settings to provide effective pain relief while reducing the need for opioids.

## Contribution

This review highlights the growing role of fascial plane blocks in non-operating room anesthesia as opioid-sparing techniques.

## Key findings

- Fascial plane blocks offer targeted analgesia with minimal systemic effects in NORA settings.
- They are particularly beneficial in interventional cardiology and radiology procedures.
- FPBs may become standard in analgesic protocols due to their safety and efficacy.

## Abstract

Non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) has emerged as one of the fastest-growing domains of modern anesthetic practice. Increasing procedural complexity and an aging, comorbid patient population demand analgesic strategies that enhance safety, comfort, and procedural success while minimizing physiological disturbance. Although systemic opioids and sedatives remain commonly used in NORA settings, their dose-dependent adverse effects may compromise patient safety and delay recovery, particularly in environments with limited postprocedural monitoring. Ultrasound-guided fascial plane blocks (FPBs) have therefore gained prominence as key components of opioid-sparing and opioid-free anesthetic strategies. By providing targeted regional analgesia with preserved hemodynamic stability, FPBs reduce systemic analgesic requirements and opioid-related side effects while improving patient comfort. This review summarizes the anatomical basis, proposed mechanisms of action, and current clinical evidence supporting the use of thoracic and abdominal fascial plane blocks in NORA settings, with particular emphasis on interventional cardiology and interventional radiology procedures. The expanding role of FPBs suggests that these techniques may become integral elements of standard analgesic protocols in contemporary non-operating room anesthesia practice.