Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41547758›Full record

SynthesisBMC anesthesiology2026

Erector spinae plane block in pediatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Małgorzata Reysner, Tomasz Reysner, Grzegorz Kowalski, Piotr Janusz, Aleksander Mularski, Przemysław Daroszewski, Jerzy Kolasiński, Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC anesthesiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Fascial plane blocks in pediatric patients.Journal of anesthesia, analgesia and critical care · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Małgorzata ReysnerDepartment of Clinical Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Chair of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 135/147, Poznań, 61-701, Poland. mreysner@ump.edu.pl.
Tomasz ReysnerDepartment of Clinical Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Chair of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 135/147, Poznań, 61-701, Poland.
Grzegorz KowalskiDepartment of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Piotr JanuszDepartment of Spine Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics, Sciences, Poznan University of Medical, Pznan, Poland.
Aleksander MularskiDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland.
Przemysław DaroszewskiDepartment of Organization and Management in Health Care, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Jerzy KolasińskiKolasinski Clinic, Hair Clinic Poznan, 62-020, Swarzędz, Poland.
Katarzyna Wieczorowska-TobisDepartment of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) is a well-known regional anesthesia technique in adults. However, its effectiveness and analgesic efficiency have yet to be fully established in children. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the analgesic efficacy of ESPB in pediatric surgery.

methodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a meta-analysis of prospective randomized clinical trials that compared the effects of ESPB versus the control group or different peripheral nerve blocks in pediatric surgery.

resultsTen randomized controlled trials, involving 651 pediatric patients, were included in the synthesis following critical appraisal. Compared to no-block analgesia, ESPB significantly prolonged the time to the first rescue analgesia (SMD 1.30, 95% CI 0.38 to 2.22; p = 0.005) and reduced postoperative opioid consumption at 24 h (SMD -1.08, 95% CI -2.03 to -0.13; p = 0.03). ESPB also significantly lowered pain scores at 4 h (p = 0.008) and 6 h (p = 0.0003) postoperatively compared to no-block analgesia. However, ESPB did not significantly reduce intraoperative fentanyl consumption (SMD -0.21, 95% CI -1.14 to 0.71; p = 0.65).

conclusionESPB improved analgesic efficacy in pediatric surgery, particularly compared with caudal or no-block analgesia; however, the overall certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate according to the GRADE approach. Further high-quality, methodologically robust RCTs are required.

trial registrationThe study was registered in the International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and is available online ( www.crd.york.uk/prospero , CRD42023483105).

Indexed as

Nerve BlockPostoperative PainAnalgesics, OpioidChildHumansParaspinal MusclesPediatric AnesthesiaRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAnalgesics, OpioidCaudal anesthesiaCaudal blockErector spinae plane blockPediatric anesthesiaPediatric surgeryPeripheral nerve blockQuadratus lumborum blockRegional anesthesia

Identifiers

PMID41547758
PMCPMC12895771

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.