Background: Serratus anterior plane block (SPB) is a relatively new regional anesthetic technique that provides long-lasting anesthesia, extended postoperative analgesia, and demonstrates less consumption of opioid analgesic compared to local infiltration anesthesia (LIA). Objective: To compare the outcomes of SPB and LIA as anesthetic techniques among patients undergoing chest tube thoracostomy (CTT) insertion. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Department of Surgery, Southern Philippines Medical Center, from October 2017 to May 2019. Participants: 110 male and female patients aged >18 years old undergoing CTT given either SPB or LIA. Main outcome measures: Mean VAS during the procedure, at PACU, and 4, 8, 12, 16, 18, and 24 hours postoperatively. Main results: Of the 110 patients undergoing CTT in this study, 55 (50%) where under SPB, and the remaining 50% where under LIA. Compared to those under LIA, patients under the SPB group had significantly lower mean VAS during the procedure (4.02 ± 1.43 vs 2.76 ± 1.35; p<0.0001), and at post-anesthesia care unit (4.25 ± 1.87 vs 3.15 ± 1.56; p=0.0010). The mean level of physician's satisfaction on the procedure was significantly higher in the SPB group than in the LIA group (3.56 ± 0.50 vs 2.96 ± 0.33; p<0.0001). The mean dose of fentanyl as supplemental anesthetic agent was significantly higher in the LIA group than those in the SPB group (1.38 ± 0.59 vs 0.95 ± 0.29; p<0.0001). Similarly, the mean dose of nalbuphine, as rescue opioid dose, was significantly higher in the LIA group than in the SPB group (2.16 ± 0.57 vs 1.53 ± 0.57; p<0.0001). Conclusion Patients under SPB who underwent CTT had less pain during the procedure and at the PACU, and used lower doses of the supplemental anesthetic agent (fentanyl) during the procedure, and of the rescue opioid analgesic (nalbuphine), postoperatively.
Anesthesia, Conduction

Background: Compared to adult patients undergoing upper limb surgery who receive general endotracheal anesthesia (GETA), those who receive peripheral nerve block (PNB) have better postoperative outcomes. Objective: To compare postoperative outcomes of PNB and GETA for orthopedic upper limb surgery among pediatric patients. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Southern Philippines Medical Center, Davao City, from December 2015 to May 2016. Participants: 94 boys and girls, 3 to 18 years old, who received either PNB or GETA for orthopedic upper limb surgery. Main outcome measures: Postoperative pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), need for postoperative rescue opioid doses. Main results: Of the 94 patients in this study, 47 (50%) received PNB, and the rest received GETA prior to surgery. Patients in the two anesthesia groups were comparable at baseline. The PNB group had lower mean VAS scores compared to the GETA group both at the post-anesthesia care unit (0.70 ± 1.52 versus 4.15 ± 1.78; p<0.001) and at the Orthopedics Ward (0.45 ± 1.49 versus 4.13 ± 1.68; p<0.001). The proportion of patients given postoperative rescue opioid doses was significantly lower in the PNB group (6/47; 12.77%) than in the GETA group (21/47; 44.62%; p=0.0006). Conclusion Pediatric patients for orthopedic upper limb surgery who received PNB had less pain postoperatively and needed postoperative rescue opioid doses less frequently compared to those who received GETA.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting