NCT06221150

Bilateral Two Levels Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery With Median Sternotomy

Ultrasound-guided Bilateral Two Levels Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery With Median Sternotomy : A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Months – 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is an anterolateral thoracic wall block that was described in 2013 by Blanco et al. who presented it as an alternative to other regional anesthetic techniques. It has been described in adults as an adjunct to general anesthesia or as a primary anesthetic technique for breast surgery, it has not been widely utilized as a primary anesthetic technique in the pediatric population. It was designed to block primarily the thoracic intercostal nerves and to provide complete analgesia of the lateral part of the thorax. It provides a viable alternative to paravertebral blockade and central neuraxial block in this patient population The investigators believe that the bilateral two-level injection technique may provide effective analgesia as its efficacy was not properly investigated in corrective heart surgeries with median sternotomy in the pediatric population.

Conditions

• Congenital Heart Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Bilateral two level serratus anterior block	bilateral two-level SAPB is performed with the guidance of ultrasound. While the patient is in the supine position with their arms abducted, the US probe is placed in longitudinal plane to visualize and count the ribs down from the clavicle while moving the transducer laterally and distally to identify the muscles overlying the 3rd and 6th ribs at the mid axillary line. Using in- plane approach, a 22-gauge short bevel needle is inserted and advanced to the plane deep to the serratus anterior muscle at the level of 3rd and 6th ribs bilaterally in succession over which a total volume of 1.5ml/kg bupivacaine 0.125% is divided and injected (0.75ml/kg on each side); with total dose not exceeding 2.5 mg/kg.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-20
• Primary completion: 2026-01-30
• Completion: 2026-01-30
• First posted: 2024-01-24
• Last updated: 2026-02-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt