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Ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block for pain management in pediatric patients undergoing radiotherapy for mediastinal tumors
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Y. Lin   , T-F. Qu , S. Li , J-U Xu , H-Q. Jin |
| Department of Anesthesiology, Baoding Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Baoding, China |
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Abstract: (6 Views) |
Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided paravertebral nerve block (PVB) in reducing radiotherapy-associated pain in pediatric patients with mediastinal tumors. Materials and Methods: Thirty children (ages 1-16) receiving radiotherapy after mediastinal tumor surgery were randomly assigned to two groups: control (routine analgesia, n=15) and observation (ultrasound-guided PVB, n=15). Radiotherapy was delivered to the mediastinal region using conventional fractionated external beam protocols (2 Gy per fraction, total dose 40-60 Gy). Pain intensity was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 0-, 12-, 24-, and 48-hours post-radiotherapy. Analgesic consumption, time to first rescue analgesic, incidence of radiotherapy-related side effects (skin irritation, fatigue), recovery time, and adverse reactions were compared between groups. Results: The observation group had significantly lower VAS scores at all time points compared to controls (p<0.05). Time to first rescue analgesic was longer (7.61±0.64 vs. 4.35±0.52 h, p<0.01), and overall analgesic use was reduced in the PVB group (p<0.05). Radiotherapy-related side effects, including skin irritation (13.3% vs. 40%) and fatigue (26.6% vs. 53.3%), were less frequent in the PVB group (p<0.05). Recovery outcomes were also improved, with shorter ICU stays and earlier resumption of daily activities (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided PVB is an effective adjunct for managing radiotherapy-induced pain in pediatric mediastinal tumor patients. It reduces pain scores, prolongs analgesia, lowers radiotherapy-related side effects, and accelerates recovery, providing a safer and more effective approach to pediatric pain management. |
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| Keywords: Radiotherapy, Mediastinal Neoplasms, Pain Management, Ultrasonography, Pediatric Patients. |
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Full-Text [PDF 960 kb]
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Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Radiation Biology
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