Efficiency of ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks in perioperative pain management for knee arthroscopy in children: A randomized study

Introduction. Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are efficient for perioperative pain treatment in children. The aim was to see if lower limb peripheral nerve blocks reduced the amount of propofol and opioid analgesics used intraoperatively, as well as the level of pain and consumption of systemic analgesics postoperatively. Material and Methods. A randomized, prospective clinical trial was carried out. It included 60 children between 11 and 18 years of age scheduled for elective knee arthroscopy. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A received general anesthesia, group B received lower limb peripheral nerve blocks with sedation or general anesthesia. Postoperative level of pain was assessed using visual analogue scale. Results. Less propofol and fentanyl was used to induce and maintain anesthesia in group B (p<0.001). The level of postoperative pain was significantly lower in group B (p<0.001), as well as the postoperative consumption of analgesics (p<0.001). As mahbny as 47% of the patients were discharged without receiving any analgesics postoperatively. The average duration of peripheral nerve blocks was 468 minutes. Conclusions. Ultrasound guided lower limb peripheral nerve blocks are an efficient technique of regional anesthesia in children. They reduce the amount of general anesthetics and opioid analgesics needed intraoperatively as well as the level of postoperative pain and consumption of analgesics postoperatively.