The efficacy of rectus sheath block for pain management following laparoscopic orchiopexy surgery

Background Ultrasound (U/S)-guided rectus sheath block is an effective analgesic technique in elective pediatric laparoscopic surgical procedures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of rectus sheath block for pain management following laparoscopic orchiopexy surgery. Patients and methods A total of 50 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic orchiopexy were allocated randomly into two groups: the U/S-guided rectus sheath block group (the REC group) and the general anesthesia-only group (the GA group), in which no rectus sheath block was performed. All patients received the same general anesthetic technique. In the REC group, patients received bilateral U/S-guided rectus sheath block, using 0.4 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine, and morphine (0.1 mg/kg) was administered for rescue analgesia postoperatively and its total dose was recorded. Pain was measured by means of Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale score. Hospital stay and the incidence of respiratory depression or vomiting were recorded. Results In all, 50 patients completed the study. The total dose of morphine used over 24 h was significantly lower in the REC group. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale scores were significantly lower in the REC group during the first 3 h postoperatively, and the incidence of vomiting, respiratory depression, and oxygen saturation in the postanesthesia care unit showed no significant difference between the study groups. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the REC group compared with the GA group. Conclusion U/S-guided rectus sheath block is an effective analgesic technique with morphine-sparing effect after laparoscopic orchiopexy surgery.