Continous Lumbar Plexus Block in Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Randomised controlled prospective trial with 2 groups (active group with Lumbar plexus block (LPB)-catheter vs control group). In a randomized controlled trial, the investigators will investigate under controlled circumstances the effect of a LPB-catheter placed with ultrasound guided Shamrock-technique to improve postoperative pain treatment after unilateral open hip and femoral surgery in paediatric patients. The investigators will investigate the effect on opioid consumption and the reduction of opioid related side effects during the first 24 postoperative hours

Detailed Description
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Paediatric patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery can experience severe pain in the postoperative period. When pain interferes with mobilization and joint movement, the rehabilitation phase is prolonged and painful. Approximately 13% of the children undergoing orthopaedic surgery report symptoms of chronic pain. Therefore, optimal pain treatment should be provided during and after the surgical procedure. Intravenous opioids or continuous epidural blocks are commonly used for postoperative pain treatment after open hip and femoral surgery. However, side effects like nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, or pruritus are often related to these treatments. Lumbar plexus blocks (LPB) are a safe and effective alternative for postoperative treatment after hip and femoral surgery. Single injection LPB techniques have shown to provide good pain relief during the early postoperative period in children. Paediatric patients might also benefit from a catheter technique giving a prolonged postoperative analgesia. LPB provide simultaneous sensory blocks of the femoral nerve and the obturator nerve. Both nerves are primarily responsible for the innervation to the femoral shaft, hip joint and the pelvic bones. In contrast to epidural anesthesia techniques, LPB has only unilateral effect. Patients therefore achieve higher mobilization levels, resulting in early rehabilitation. Several ultrasound-guided lumbar plexus block techniques have been described in the past. The Shamrock technique is a new LPB-technique that has shown to improve visualization of the lumbar plexus, surrounding anatomy, and injection needle. The improved visualization can facilitate block performance and improve safety. A catheter technique will be used for LPB to provide prolonged postoperative analgesia. In a randomized controlled trial, the investigators will investigate under controlled circumstances the effect of a LPB-catheter placed with ultrasound guided Shamrock-technique to improve postoperative pain treatment after unilateral open hip and femoral surgery in paediatric patients. The investigators will investigate the effect on opioid consumption and the reduction of opioid related side effects during the first 24 postoperative hours.

Official Title
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Continuous Lumbar Plexus Block Using Shamrock-technique for Postoperative Pain Treatment After Open Hip and Femoral Surgery in Children

Conditions
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Regional Anesthesia, Pediatric Anesthesia, Pain, Postoperative

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: LPB


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Paediatric patients undergoing elective unilateral open hip and femoral surgery requiring general anaesthesia with intubation at the University Hospital - Inselspital in Bern. American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status 1-3 8-16 year old with legal guardians providing written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Obesity (BMI 30 kg/m2) Infeasibility to use a PCA pump Known or suspected infection of the skin at the site of needle puncture area Known allergy to ropivacaine Severe spine deformity Neuromuscular disease Coagulopathy.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years
Maximum Age: 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Treatment group<br>A bolus injection for LPB of 0.5 ml/kg ropivacaine 3.75 mg/ml (max 40 ml will be performed and the catheter will be placed before surgical interventions. A continuous perineural infusion of 0.2 ml/kg/h ropivacaine 0.2%, starting immediately after initial bolus injection will be then administered | Other: LPB<br>* A bolus injection for LPB of 0.5 ml/kg ropivacaine 3.75 mg/ml (max 40 ml will be performed and the catheter will be placed before surgical interventions. A continuous perineural infusion of 0.2 ml/kg/h ropivacaine 0.2%, starting immediately after initial bolus injection will be then administered<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>Patients in the control group (and in the active treatment group) will receive an opioid-based analgesia with a hydromorphone-patient controlled analgesia (PCA) depending on their analgesic demand | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cumulative opioid consumption (in mg/kg) | Cumulative opioid consumption (in mg/kg) in the first postoperative 24 hours in an active treatment group using LPB with a bolus of ropivacaine 0.375% and a continuous LPB-catheter infusion with ropivacaine 0.2 % compared with a control group without LPB | 24 hours | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to first opioid requirement | Time to first opioid requirement | 4 hours | 
| Total opioids consumption | Total opioids consumption during 48 hours (in time periods 0-12 hours, 12-24 hours, 24-36 hours, and 36-48 hours) | up to 48 hours | 
| Satisfaction of patients | Satisfaction of patients measured via questionnaire | 48 hours | 
| Occurrence of vomiting, nausea and pruritus | Occurrence of vomiting, nausea and pruritus recorded in patient data management system | 48 hours |