Analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block in pediatric patients - Our experience in a tertiary care hospital

This is a prospective ,observational,descriptive study which aims to determine the analgesic effects of erector spinae plane block (ESPB)in pediatric patients aged between 2-7yrs posted for abdominal and lower limb surgeries.

The primary objective of the study is to assess the duration of analgesia provided by ESPB (time to first request of rescue analgesic postoperatively) and secondary objectives are to assess frequency of rescue analgesics used and total number of rescue analgesics utilized during the intraoperative and postoperative period.

All children posted for abdominal ,inguinal,hip and femur surgeries fulfilling the inclusion criteria will receive  ESPB after general anesthesia with dose of 0.5ml/kg with a maximum dose of 2mg /kg of 0.25% bupivacaine with dexamethasone 100mcg/kg at the level of lumbar vertebrae appropriate for the case.

Intraoperatively, heart rate (HR) ,mean arterial pressure (MAP) will be monitored every 15 minutes .If the vitals rises more than 20 percent of baseline values then iv rescue analgesics (fentanyl-0.5mcg/kg) will be given.

Postoperatively the duration of analgesia provided by ESPB will be assessed by assessing revised FLACC score  at 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours.  If FLACC >3 then iv paracetamol will be given(15mg/kg) as rescue analgesic and if FLACC >5 then iv pethidine will be given (0.5mg/kg).

Frequency of rescue analgesics and total doses of rescue analgesics given for a period of 24 hours during the postoperative period will be observed.

Descriptive and inferential statistics will be calculated to provide statistical significance.