Function of The Regional Blockade with Ropivacaine on The Enhanced Recovery after Surgery of Pediatric Patients with Hernias

Objective We aimed to discuss the effect of regional blockade with Ropivacaine on the enhanced recovery after surgery （ERAS） of pediatric patients who went through hernial sac high ligation. Methods This was a randomized, single-blind, parallel controlled trial. Children who went through hernial sac high ligation were divided into the study group and control group. A total of 30 children were included into the control group and total intravenous anesthesia was routinely implemented for all of them. A dose of 2~3 mL 0.9% normal saline was locally injected postoperatively. On the other hand, a total of 50 children were included into the study group and total intravenous anesthesia was also routinely implemented for them. A dose of 2~3 mL 0.2% Ropivacaine was locally injected postoperatively. Visual analog scale （VAS） scores of the two groups 2 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours postoperatively were recorded. The changes in vital signs at the post-anesthesia care unit （PACU）, the doses of paracetamol （suppositories） postoperatively, time to ambulation, and length of hospital stay were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results VAS scores 2 hours （1.3±1.15） vs. （6.8±0.76）, 6 hours （1.46±1.09） vs. （7.1±0.84）, and 12 hours（1.52±1.15） vs. （7.33±1.06） postoperatively of the study group were all significantly lower than the control group （P<0.001）. Besides, children from the study group had less postoperative paracetamol （suppositories） doses （χ²=45.38, P<0.001）, earlier ambulation （9.84±1.39） h vs. （12.20±1.47） h, P<0.001, and shorter length of hospital stay （29.32±4.69） h vs. （38.93±4.29） h, P<0.001 than children from the control group. Conclusion For children undergoing hernial high sac ligation, regional blockade with Ropivacaine can effectively ease pain, reduce the dose of postoperative analgesics, prompt earlier ambulation, shorten the length of hospital stay, and thus is a recommendable clinical approach.