Identification of Best Postoperative Analgesia Method Following a Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum

Plain-language summary

Pectus excavatum is the most common chest wall deformity in children, accounting for 90% of all congenital chest wall deformities. It occurs in one to eight per 1000 live births. The severity of the pectus deformity may become more noticeable during pubertal growth spurs and repair is therefore usually performed in the teenage years. A common operative procedure to repair a pectus deformity is the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). The MIRPE involves the substernal placement of a contoured metal bar secured to the lateral aspect of the ribs. This metal bar allows for correction of the concave deformity by applying constant outward pressure to the underside of the sternum. Although the cosmetic results are excellent, patients do report significant pain from the constant pressure exerted on the chest wall from the metal bar. Pain management approaches tend to differ on both the provider and institutional level. There is a lack of evidence regarding which postoperative analgesia method is best. To address this research gap, this proposal aims to conduct a randomized controlled trail using the three most commonly used methods; 1) patient controlled analgesia (PCA); 2) erector spinae blocks (ESB) with continuous infusion pumps; and 3) video-assisted intercostal nerve cryoablation (INC).

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