{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Thoracic Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
{Author}: Gado AA;Abdalwahab A;Ali H;Alsadek WM;Ismail AA;
{Journal}: J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Sep 2021 22
{Factor}: 2.894
{DOI}: 10.1053/j.jvca.2021.09.014
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) as an analgesic technique for thoracotomies in pediatric patients.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Double-blinded randomized controlled trial.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A single-center study at Aboelrish Pediatric Hospital, one tertiary hospital of Cairo University Hospitals.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Seventy pediatric patients aged six months-to-three years scheduled for thoracotomies.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Patients were randomized into two groups, group SF and group F. Group SF received an ultrasound-guided SAPB (n = 35), whereas group F (n = 35) did not. All groups received an intraoperative fentanyl infusion (at 0.5 μg/kg /h).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The primary outcome was the total dose of postoperatively administrated fentanyl in the first 24 hours. The secondary outcomes included the total dose of intraoperative additional fentanyl boluses; time of the first postoperative rescue analgesia; and postoperative Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale (FLACC) score values.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The main results of this study showed that the administrated fentanyl in the 24 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in SF group than in F group (p value ˂ 0.001). In addition, significant decreases of the postoperative FLACC pain score (p value ˂ 0.001), reduction of intraoperative fentanyl consumption (p value ˂ 0.001), and delay of the first rescue analgesia (p value ˂ 0.001) were recorded in SF group in relation to F group without significant complications in both groups.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Serratus anterior plane block can provide a safe, effective, and easy-to-perform regional technique for children undergoing thoracotomies.