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Background and Aims The Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) is a new regional anesthetic technique, and the global literature data on pediatric patients is still limited. The aim is to evaluate the analgesic power of the ESPB under ultrasound guidance when used in pediatric patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The effectiveness of the technique is based on opioid and non-opioid analgesic consumption within the first 24 hours postoperatively, as well as pain assessment scales

Methods Pediatric patients aged 3-18 years old who underwent thoracic interventions between January 2022 and May 2023 at the Clinic of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care. A 22G, 50mm needle was used for the technique, and the local anesthetic was Ropivacaine 0.25%, not exceeding a volume of 20ml unilaterally or separately for each side, while avoiding the maximum toxic dose of Ropivacaine of 2mg/kg

Results An overview of the literature data regarding the effectiveness of the ESPB is presented, along with the data obtained at the Clinic of Pediatric Anesthesiology which are compared to conventional venous analgesia. The possible complications are described based on both the literature data and observations at the Clinic

Conclusions Reducing the pain,better comfort during hospital stay, and minimizing stress factors are of crucial importance, especially in the pediatric population. The advantages of regional anesthesia over venous analgesia, as well as the tendency to avoid central blocks when possible by using effective and sufficiently safe peripheral blocks, create favorable conditions for establishing the ESPB as a good, relatively easy technique for analgesia in the thoracic region, even in children.

Attachment Ethic Comittee.pdf