The Role of Regional Anesthesia in Reducing Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Patients

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Introduction: Ensuring adequate analgesia is crucial for minimizing morbidity and healthcare costs, ultimately enhancing the success of ambulatory surgery outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of regional anesthesia in reducing postoperative pain in pediatric patients. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of regional anesthesia in reducing postoperative pain in pediatric patients. Methods: This prospective observational study included 60 pediatric patients who underwent various surgical procedures with regional anesthesia at the Department of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, and Intensive Care Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. Patients aged < 15 years were included, with baseline pain scores recorded preoperatively and postoperative pain levels assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. Data on regional anesthesia techniques and pain scores were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Result: The study revealed that the largest group of pediatric patients were aged 7–14 years, with regional anesthesia techniques like upper and lower limb blocks being the most common. Postoperatively, 33.33% of Neonates and Infants reported a pain score of 0 within the first 3 hours, while nausea and postdural puncture headache (PDPH) were observed in 25.00% and 13.33% of patients, respectively. Most patients had a hospital stay of 4–6 days, though 21.67% required more than 10 days. Conclusion: Regional anesthesia effectively reduced postoperative pain in pediatric patients, demonstrating significant pain management benefits, minimal complications, and a positive impact on recovery and hospital stay duration.