Assessment of Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Block as a Pain Management Strategy in Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula Repair

Ultrasound has become an indispensable tool in modern anaesthetic practice, significantly enhancing the safety and precision of various regional anaesthesia techniques. Its widespread adoption in the perioperative setting has minimized procedural complications associated with traditional blind approaches. Among these techniques, the ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) has demonstrated excellent efficacy in providing perioperative analgesia, particularly following thoracic procedures. TPVB can be delivered as a single-dose injection or through continuous infusion using a catheter-based technique. The block involves the deposition of local anaesthetic into the paravertebral space, adjacent to the spinal nerve roots, which lack protective sheaths and are highly responsive to local anaesthetics. A single-shot TPVB can typically cover 4 to 6 dermatomes, offering substantial analgesic benefit. This case series presents the use of single-shot ultrasound-guided unilateral thoracic paravertebral blocks as an effective analgesic strategy in neonates undergoing tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair. The implementation of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia techniques such as TPVB has significantly enhanced postoperative outcomes by ensuring effective perioperative pain control and reducing opioid exposure in vulnerable paediatric populations.