Effects of fascia iliaca compartment block combined with general laryngeal mask airway anesthesia in children undergoing femoral fracture surgery: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Postoperative agitation after general anesthesia is a common complication in children; however, pain or uncomfortable feeling is the main reason of emergence agitation. Here, we have investigated the effects of fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) combined with general laryngeal mask airway (LMA) anesthesia in children undergoing femoral surgery. METHODS: Eighty children undergoing femoral surgery were randomly divided into two groups: FICB + LMA group and control group (n=40). The FICB + LMA group received FICB combined with general LMA anesthesia, and the control group received tracheal intubation general anesthesia alone. Anesthesia was maintained with nitrous oxide and sevoflurane. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored, and pain was assessed by verbal numeric score within 24 hours postoperatively. Time to extubation, time to discharge from the postanesthesia care unit and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Hemodynamic parameters were more stable in the FICB + LMA group than in the control group during anesthesia induction (P<0.05). Verbal numeric score values were lower in the FICB + LMA group than in the control group at 2–8 hours postoperatively (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the time to extubation and time to discharge from postanesthesia care unit were shorter in the FICB + LMA group (P<0.05). Additionally, postoperative complications were less in the FICB + LMA group. CONCLUSION: The FICB combined with general LMA anesthesia may provide intra- and postoperative analgesia, shorten emergence time and reduce postoperative agitation in children undergoing femoral surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR-IOR-17012725).