Kaushal B, Chauhan S, Magoon R, et al. - In this prospective, randomized, single-blind, comparative study, researchers focused on the efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in relieving acute pain after cardiac surgery through midline sternotomy performed in 80 children with acyanotic congenital heart disease at a single-institution tertiary referral cardiac center. Participants were randomly assigned to ESPB (group B, n = 40; ultrasound-guided bilateral ESPB at the level of T₃ transverse process) or to control group (group C, n = 40) receiving no block. Until the 10th postoperative hour, a significant decrease in Modified Objective Pain Scores (MOPS) was evident in Group B vs group C, with comparable MOPS at the 12th hour. Also, group B showed significantly less postoperative rescue fentanyl consumption vs group C with a longer duration to first rescue dose necessary in group B. Lower postoperative sedation scores and intensive care unit stay was seen in group B vs group C. These findings are suggestive of the efficacy, reliability as well as simplicity of ultrasound-guided bilateral ESPB, an innovative option, as a postoperative analgesic modality for pediatric cardiac surgeries contemplated through a midline sternotomy.