Regional interfascial blocks in pediatric practice: a literature review

Abstract

Regional anesthesia in frequently used during the perioperative period in both adult and pediatric patients to achieve better pain control and faster recovery after surgery. Significant progress in regional anesthesia has been achieved recently due to the availability of ultrasound guidance. In this systematic review and meta-analyses, randomized trials on the use of regional blocks in anesthesiology were evaluated, including new blockade techniques that expand the possibilities of regional anesthesia. Interfascial blocks are considered a subgroup of peripheral nerve blocks, a set of techniques that have been already employed in perioperative pain management. Their advantages include less invasiveness, significant reduction in the need for opioid analgesics, low complication rates, and flexibility of approaches to accommodate specific surgical needs. Despite considerable interest in interfascial blocks in pediatric anesthesiologists, data on its safety are lacking, with a few randomized controlled trials providing low-quality evidence. Future prospective studies are warranted to evaluate interfascial blocks in the pediatric population.