Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-guided Bilateral Pecto-intercostal Plane Block in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-guided Bilateral Pecto-intercostal Fascial Block in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

The goal of this study is to compare patients outcome in two groups. the first group will be applied pecto-intercostal fascial block additional to general anesthesia and the second group will not.

This is a single-center, prospective, observational trial to study the efficacy of Pecto-intercostal Fascial Block (PIFB) in patients undergoing pediatric congenital cardiac surgery requiring median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. The children are aged between 6 months to 12 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 2 or 3.

The main question it aims to answer are:

The investigators' first question is if applying pecto-intercostal fascial block just after anesthesia induction reduces postoperative pain status. Secondly, if this pain status makes any reduction in preoperative opioid consumption. The investigators aim to find out; if there is any difference in opioid consumption during operation and postoperative 24-hour, postoperative Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale, length of intensive care unit and hospital stays, and other complications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing pediatric congenital cardiac surgery requiring median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass.
• age between 6 months and 12 years
• ASA score 2 or 3
• Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1) score under 4

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients who need mechanical ventilation support before surgery
• patients who need to stay intubated more than 24 hours after surgery
• patients undergo complex cardiac surgery with RACHS-1 score higher than 4.
• patients without consent
• having allergic reaction to bupivacaine
• having cardiac surgery before (redo patient)