Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block, Pectoral Nerves II Block, and Intercostal Nerve Block for the Management of Postoperative Thoracotomy Pain After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB), pectoral nerves (Pecs) II block, and intercostal nerve block (ICNB) for the management of post-thoracotomy pain in pediatric cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomized, single-blind, comparative study.

SETTING

Single-institution tertiary referral cardiac center.

PARTICIPANTS

The study comprised 108 children with congenital heart disease requiring surgery through a thoracotomy.

INTERVENTIONS

Children were allocated randomly to 1 of the 3 groups: SAPB, Pecs II, or ICNB. All participants received 3 mg/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided block after induction of anesthesia. Postoperatively, intravenous paracetamol was used for multimodal and fentanyl was used for rescue analgesia.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A modified objective pain score (MOPS) was evaluated at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours post-extubation. The early mean MOPS at 1, 2, and 4 hours was similar in the 3 groups. The late mean MOPS was significantly lower in the SAPB group compared with that of the ICNB group (p < 0.001). The Pecs II group also had a lower MOPS compared with the ICNB group at 6, 8, and 10 hours (p < 0.001), but the MOPS was comparable at hour 12 (p = 0.301). The requirement for rescue fentanyl was significantly higher in ICNB group in contrast to the SAPB and Pecs II groups.

CONCLUSION

SAPB and Pecs II fascial plane blocks are equally efficacious in post-thoracotomy pain management compared with ICNB, but they have the additional benefit of being longer lasting and are as easily performed as the traditional ICNB.