Intercostal nerve block with Bupivacaine for post-thoracotomy pain relief in children.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Intercostal Nerve Block (ICB) with Bupivacaine (BUP) to produce satisfactory analgesia after thoracotomy in children. We studied 20 children aged between 5 and 12 years, scheduled for thoracotomy under general anaesthesia. The children were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group (n = 10) 3 mg/kg BUP 0.5 % with epinephrine 1 : 200 000 was injected by the surgeon under direct vision, into the intercostal space where thoracotomy was performed. In the control group (n = 10) meperidine 1 mg/kg was administered i.v. at the same surgical time, and afterwards the chest was closed. Postoperatively the vital signs, the side effects and the total postoperative analgesic requirements were recorded. The mean duration of postoperative analgesia produced was longer in the BUP group (p < 0.001). None of the children in BUP group suffered from BUP toxicity, while in the control group a high incidence of vomiting and nausea was noticed (p < 0.005). It is concluded that ICB with BUP produces satisfactory and safe analgesia for the early postoperative period after thoracotomy in children.