Analgésie péridurale continue versus bloc continu du compartiment psoas pour l’analgésie postopératoire après chirurgie majeure du bassin ou du fémur chez l’enfant : étude prospective comparative randomisée

Background

Intravenous opioids and/or continuous epidural block (CEB) are used for postoperative analgesia after hip and/or femoral shaft surgery but adverse effects limit their use in children. A continuous psoas compartment block (CPCB), effective technique in adults can be an alternative. In this randomized comparative study, we wanted to evaluate CEB and CPCB in children after major hip surgery in terms of adverse events, pain relief and ropivacaine plasma concentrations.

Methods

After ethical committee and parents’ approval, 40 children scheduled for hip surgery were included and randomly allocated to receive CPCB or CEB. After general anaesthesia induction, 0.5 mL/kg of 0.375% ropivacaine were injected via the epidural or lumbar plexus catheter. After surgery, 0.1 ml/kg per hour (group CPCB) or 0.2 ml/kg per hour (group CEB) of 0.2% ropivacaine was infused for 48 h. Post-operative pain was evaluated using VAS or CHIPPS scores values at h1, h6, h12, h18, h24, h36 and h48, as well as doses of first line (paracetamol 15 mg/kg/6 h) or second line rescue analgesia (0.2 mg/kg intravenous nalbuphine), if pain score remained high after 30 mm. niflumic acid was systematically used. Adverse events were noted as well as parents’ satisfaction at 48 h. Ropivacaine plasma concentrations were measured four times up to 48 h (h1, h6, h24 and h48) by high performance gas chromatography.

Results

Forty children 1 to 12 years old (CPCB = 20, CEB = 20) were included. The demographic data were equivalent in both groups. Postoperative analgesia was excellent for both continuous block techniques during the whole studied period. Doses of rescue analgesics were comparable in both groups at the end of the 48 h. Number of children who had at least one side effect is significantly higher in CEB group. Furthermore, the number of local anaesthetic premature stops was significantly more frequent in this group. Median values of ropivacaine plasma level in CEB group were significantly higher than CPCB group at h6 and h24. Ten parents in the CEB group and 15 in CPCB group were satisfied.

Conclusion

Continuous psoas compartment block is an effective technique of postoperative analgesia after major hip or femoral surgery in children. It equally manages postoperative pain with significantly less adverse event and decreased ropivacaine doses and plasma concentration than CEB.