title: Parasternal intercostal block with ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of 0.5% ropivacaine used for parasternal intercostal blocks for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty children scheduled for cardiac surgery with a median sternotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 0.5% ropivacaine injection with 5 doses of 0.5 to 2.0 mL on each side in the 2nd to 6th parasternal intercostal space with a total dose of ropivacaine below 5 mg/kg or the same volume of saline before sternal wound closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time to extubation was significantly lower in patients administered the parasternal blocks with ropivacaine than in the control group; the mean values were 2.66 hours and 5.31 hours, respectively (p < 0.001). The pain scores were lower in the ropivacaine group compared with the saline group; mean values were 2.20 for the ropivacaine group and 4.83 for the saline group on a scale of 10. The cumulative fentanyl dose requirement over a 24-hour period was higher in the saline group than the ropivacaine group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parasternal blocks with ropivacaine appear to be a simple, safe, and useful technique of supplementation of postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with a median sternotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Anesthesia, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. vishaldoc2003@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Minati
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasdev
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talwar
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007367:Intercostal Nerves; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine