On-table Extubation Facilitated by Regional Analgesic Techniques Combined with General Anesthesia for PDA Ligation: A Case-series and Literature Review

An increasing embracement of safer regional techniques as pivotal components of multimodal analgesia regimen has made fast-tracking possible following pediatric cardiac surgery. Speaking of fast-tracking in pediatrics, the feasibility of on-table extubation (OTE), and its’ potential benefits are also being ardently researched with simultaneous emphasis on appropriate patient selection and adequate perioperative safety. We report eight consecutive pediatric cases featuring a combination of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) or erector spinae plane block (ESPB) to general anesthesia (GA) for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation through a left thoracotomy incision. Following induction of GA, the left-sided SAPB was performed in five patients and the other three patients received left-sided ESPB, each with 0.5 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine. Demonstrating a mean intraoperative fentanyl requirement of 3.25 ± 0.71 µg/kg, OTE could be successfully contemplated in all the 8 patients. Subsequently, the post-operative face, leg, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) score was recorded at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h. Meanwhile, all the patients depicted acceptable pain scores till 4 h, administration of 0.5 µg/Kg rescue fentanyl was necessitated in three patients each at 6-h and 8-h postoperatively (given FLACC scores ≥4), amounting to a mean 0.375 ± 0.23 µg/kg post-operative fentanyl requirement. All patients received intravenous paracetamol at 8-h postoperatively. No block-related complication or need for reintubation was discovered. Incorporation of fascial plane blocks (SAPB or ESPB) to the conduct of GA for PDA ligation, allowed for safe OTE in our experience, due to an opioid-sparing potential.