Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Standardisation of care improves patient outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgeries are major paediatric procedures requiring multidisciplinary management. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, with proven benefits in adults, remain poorly developed in paediatrics. The main objective of this Before/After study was to evaluate the impact of an ERAS program implementation for AIS on length of stay (LOS) and postoperative recovery. METHODS: The ERAS protocol included intrathecal morphine, standardised multimodal analgesia and multidisciplinary measures for early recovery. Retrospective data from adolescents operated between 2015 and 2017 ("Before ERAS" group) were compared with data from patients benefiting from the ERAS program ("After ERAS" group). Patients treated for neuromuscular scoliosis were not included. After a descriptive analysis, a propensity score matching defined two comparable populations. The main outcome was the LOS. The time to first solid food intake, first ambulation, first bowel movement and Foley removal were also analysed. RESULTS: During the "Before ERAS" period, 73 underwent PSF for AIS. Thereafter, 65 patients benefited from the ERAS protocol, including 35 for AIS. After propensity score application, 32 patients of the "After ERAS" group were matched with 32 patients of the "Before ERAS" group. The ERAS implementation was associated with 25% reduction in LOS (2.10 ± 1.60 days p < 0.001). All other enhanced recovery criteria were significantly reduced after ERAS implementation. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the expected benefits of ERAS program in AIS with a significant impact on postoperative recovery and LOS. Patient adherence and the involvement of all caregivers are essential to the success of such a program.

Transversus Abdominal Plane Block in Children: Efficacy and Safety: A Randomized Clinical Study and Pharmacokinetic Profile.

BACKGROUND: The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has become a common regional anesthesia technique for pain management in a wide variety of abdominal procedures. Evidence to support any particular local anesthetic regimen as well as pharmacokinetic and systemic toxicity risks of TAP block remain insufficiently studied in children. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic effects and investigate pharmacokinetic profile of levobupivacaine after ultrasound-guided TAP block using a low volume/high concentration (LVHC) or a high volume/low concentration (HVLC) solution in children. METHODS: This prospective randomized study included children scheduled for day-case inguinal surgery. Children were randomized to receive TAP block using 0.4 mg·kg levobupivacaine as either HVLC (0.2 mL·kg of 0.2% levobupivacaine) or LVHC (0.1 mL·kg of 0.4% levobupivacaine). The primary outcome was the number of children who required opioid rescue analgesia postoperatively. Pharmacokinetic profile study of levobupivacaine was also performed. RESULTS: Seventy patients were equally randomized, and 65 were included in the final analysis. Seventy-one percent of patients did not require any postoperative opioid analgesia. The number of patients who received rescue analgesia was 12 (35%) in the LVHC group and 7 (23%) in the HVLC group (relative risk, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-1.42; P = .26). Mean pain scores (FLACC [faces, legs, activity, cry, and consolability]) at postanesthesia care unit discharge did not differ between LVHC and HVLC groups, respectively, 0.39 ± 0.86 and 1 ± 1.71 with mean group difference -0.60 (95% CI, -1.27 to 0.06; P = .08). The pharmacokinetic profile of levobupivacaine was comparable in the 2 groups: the mean total and free levobupivacaine peak concentrations were 379 ± 248 and 3.95 ± 3.16 ng·mL, respectively, occurring 22.5 ± 11 minutes after injection. The highest total and free levobupivacaine concentrations collected, respectively, 1360 and 15.1 ng·mL, remained far below theoretical toxic thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: In children, quality of postoperative pain control provided by TAP block using levobupivacaine 0.4 mg·kg administered as either HVLC or LVHC did not differ and was associated with a very low risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity.

Children with challenging airways: What about GlideScope® video-laryngoscopy?

BACKGROUND: GlideScope® video-laryngoscopy is becoming increasingly used, including in paediatrics. However, to date, very few data are available on efficiency during situations involving difficult intubation. Our objective was to describe the usefulness of the GlideScope® in children with presumed challenging airway criteria. METHODS: In this observational study, all children with predicted criteria of potential difficult intubation and requiring general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation were prospectively enrolled over a 12-month period. The Cormack and Lehane (CMK) grade was first assessed by direct laryngoscopy. In case of a CMK≥3, the same experienced anaesthesiologist scored the CMK scale under GlideScope® videoscopy. Data related to GlideScope® use under difficult intubation conditions were analysed. RESULTS: Out of the sixty-one patients (median [25th-75th interquartile range] age of 12 [4-37] months) included, 37 (62%) patients have confirmed a high probability of difficult intubation. Compared to direct laryngoscopy, GlideScope® video-laryngoscopy was significantly associated with an improved CMK grade (P<0.001). Tracheal intubation with the GlideScope® was successful after the first attempt in almost one half of cases and ultimately in 100% of patients. The median time required for successful GlideScope® intubation was 42.5 [30-60] s. No per procedure complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: In children with challenging airways, GlideScope® video-laryngoscopy resulted in a significant improvement of the glottic view with an excellent success rate and satisfactory time to intubation. How these devices are to be positioned in difficult airway management algorithms and guidelines remain to be defined.