Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Muscle Block Versus Ultrasound-guided Caudal Block in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal Surgeries

Background: The erector spinae plane block is a new regional anesthetic technique that is gaining popularity in pediatric medicine. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae block and compare its analgesic effect with that of the ultrasound-guided caudal block in pediatric patients. Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Setting: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, faculty of medicine, Minia University, Egypt. Methods: Sixty-three children scheduled for unilateral lower abdominal surgeries, under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into 3 parallel equal groups: Group I (erector spinae block [ESB] group) received ultrasound-guided an erector spinae muscle block in a dose of 0.4 mg/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine between the 10th transverse process and the erector spinae muscles. Group II (caudal block [CB] group) received an ultrasound-guided caudal block in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. The last group, Group III (control [C] group), did not receive any regional block. Our primary outcome was to evaluate the quality of postoperative analgesia using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) Pain Scale; secondary outcomes were to assess the time to first analgesic request, total analgesic requests during the first 24 hours, and the occurrence of any side effects. Results: The early postoperative FLACC score was less in the ESB group than the CB group; both were lower than the control group. The erector spinae block had a longer duration of analgesia than the caudal block as the median (interquartile range [IQR]) "of the duration of analgesia in the ESB group was 8 (8-12) hours while it was 6 (6-8) hours in group the CB group; both groups had a longer duration of analgesia compared to the C group 0.25 (0.17-4) hours. The total amount of analgesia was less in the ESB group than the CB group. The number of patients who needed rescue intravenous fentanyl analgesia was 14 patients in the C group while no patient needed intravenous fentanyl in the ESB and CB groups. Limitations: Sensory evaluation of the patients was not done since the 2 blocks were done under general anesthesia but did not affect the outcome. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided erector spinae block was safe and effective in pediatric patients undergoing unilateral lower abdominal surgery as it provided a longer duration of analgesia and less analgesic requirement than caudal block and fewer side effects.