Erector spinae plane block for thoracoscopy in a paediatric patient

We present the case of a 9 year old patient with a clinical history of epilepsy and various hospitalizations due to aspirative broncopneumonia among others, who was admitted to our hospital because of septic shock secondary to pneumonia of the lower left lobule associated with a parapneumonic pleural effusion and a complicated clinical course. During her stay, the patient undergoes surgical debridement using video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anaesthesia and the hydropneumothorax is drained. For the procedure an ecoguided erector spinae plane block is performed and combined with general anaesthesia. On one hand this block permitted reduction of perioperative opioid administration and improved the patient's respiration, on the other hand it permitted avoiding the use of drugs, which can lower seizure threshold and increase the risk of convulsions. This case illustrates the importance of locoregional anaesthesia, a technique on the rise in the field of paediatric anaesthesia.