Background: Surgical repair of congenital inguinal hernia results in significant postoperative discomfort and pain. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of a transversalis fascia plane (TFP) block after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy.Methods: Forty-four patients aged 12 to 60 months who underwent unilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy were enrolled. Four patients were excluded, and the remaining were allocated to the control group and the TFP block group. In the TFP block group, 0.4 mL/kg bupivacaine 0.25% was instilled in the plane between the transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia, while in the control group 0.9% saline was used instead of bupivacaine. The collected data were the total dose of paracetamol consumed during the first 12 h postoperatively, the postoperative Face, Leg, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain score, time to first use of rescue analgesia, number of patients required additional postoperative analgesics, and parents' satisfaction.Results: The median paracetamol consumption was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group, and FLACC pain scores were significantly lower for all study times in the TFP block group with higher parental satisfaction scores than those for the control group. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was significantly lower in the TFP block group than in the control group. Conclusions: The use of a TFP block decreases postoperative analgesic consumption and postoperative pain intensity after pediatric inguinal herniorrhaphy. Future studies with larger sample size are required to evaluate the actual complications rate of TFP block.

Purpose: To compare dexamethasone (DA) to dexmedetomidine (DE) as adjuvants for bupivacaine during infraorbital nerve block (IONB) in a randomized clinical trial. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients were randomized into two equal groups. By the guidance of ultrasound, the IONB was performed bilaterally in all patients, using 1 mL of the solution on each side. In DA group, 1 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine was added to 0.1 mg.kg−1 DA and diluted to 2 mL in DE group; 1 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine was added to 0.5 μg.kg −1 DE and diluted to 2 mL. The primary outcome was time to first rescue analgesic. The secondary outcomes included face legs activity cry consolability (FLACC) score rating during the first 24 h, hemodynamic variables, the incidence of postoperative vomiting, sedation score, and parent satisfaction. Results: During the first 24 h postoperatively, the DE group showed a significantly lower FLACC score and a longer time to first analgesic request compared to DA group. Sedation and parent satisfaction scores were significantly higher while heart rate and mean blood pressure were significantly lower in DE group compared to DA group. There were no differences in other secondary outcomes. Conclusion: The use of DE as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in IONB for cleft lip repair resulted in lower pain score and more prolonged duration of analgesia compared to DA.

Context: Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a promising technique in the field of pediatric postoperative analgesia considering its safety and simplicity. Objective: The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve (IIN) block and ESP block for postoperative analgesia after pediatric unilateral inguinal hernia repair. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients randomized into two equal groups. ESP group received US-guided ESP block, and IIN group received US-guided IIN block. Block in both groups was done with 0.5 mL/kg 0.125 bupivacaine + fentanyl 1 μg/mL injectate. Primary outcome is to compare both groups regarding time to first analgesic request. Secondary outcomes include evaluation of postoperative FLACC score, number of patients requiring rescue analgesic, number of rescue analgesic doses, parental satisfaction, incidence of postoperative vomiting, and motor weakness. Results: IIN group showed a significantly higher FLACC score at 4 and 6 h, significantly higher number of rescue medication doses and number of patients needed rescue analgesia. The ESP group carries a significantly higher parental satisfaction and a significantly longer time to first rescue analgesic compared to IIN group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that US guided ESP block resulted in a more effective and longer duration of postoperative analgesia following a pediatric unilateral inguinal hernia repair compared to IIN block.

Context: Some pediatric supraglottic airway devices have not been evaluated in a large perspective for blind intubation although they are validated as a conduit for fiberoptic-guided intubation. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the success rate of blind technique with correction maneuvers versus fiberoptic-guided intubation through the air-Q laryngeal airway in pediatric patients. Patients and Methods: One hundred and twenty-six pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into two equal groups. The air-Q was placed in all patients as a conduit for tracheal intubation. Group B patients underwent blind intubation with correction maneuvers. Group F patients underwent fiberoptic-guided intubation. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the success rate of intubation or postextubation complications. Group F patients showed a significantly longer time to intubation and total time of the trial. Furthermore, Group F patients showed a significantly higher level of pre- and postintubation heart rate compared to Group B patients. Conclusion: Blind tracheal intubation in pediatric patients through the air-Q with correction maneuvers could be a good alternative for fiberoptic-guided intubation with stable hemodynamics and shorter time till intubation.