Erector Spinae Plane Block for Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgeries via Sternotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Ineffective management of postoperative pain following pediatric cardiac surgeries adversely affects a patient’s postoperative course. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block has been described in the literature regarding perioperative pain management. We hypothesized that bilateral ESP blocks in pediatric patients would decrease intraoperative fentanyl consumption, reduce the need for postoperative morphine consumption, and improve pain scores.

The aim of this double-blinded randomized controlled trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral ESP blocks in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgeries through a median sternotomy.

The study involved 98 children aged 6 months to 7 years who were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II and III and scheduled for cardiac surgery through a median sternotomy. Patients were divided randomly into 2 groups: the ES group (n = 50) who received bilateral ultrasound-guided ESP blocks, and the N group (n = 48) who received no block. The primary outcome was the total dose of administered fentanyl intraoperatively. Secondary outcomes included morphine consumption in the first 24 hours postoperatively; the length of time before the first need for postoperative analgesia; and FLACC (face, legs, activity, consolability, and cry) scores at the first and second hours postoperatively and every 4 hours, with readings taken for a period of 24 hours.

There were statistically significantly higher levels of administered fentanyl intraoperatively (6.7 ± 3 vs 4.3 ± 1.9 µg.kg-1) and postoperative morphine consumption (0.5 ± 0.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.2 mg.kg-1) in the N group compared with the ES group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the timing of the first rescue analgesia was significantly delayed in the ES group compared with the N group (231.6 ± 104.5 vs 108.8 ± 47.8 minutes).

Bilateral ultrasound-guided ESP blocks can be used to reduce perioperative opioid consumption in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery through a sternotomy. It also can be used to decrease postoperative pain scores.