Zhang Y, Chen S, Gong H, et al. - In this study including patients ages 6 to 60 months undergoing cardiac surgical procedures, researchers determined how a bilateral transversus thoracis muscle plane (TTP) block can influence open cardiac surgery outcomes. They randomized 100 children to receive either bilateral TTP block (TTP group) or no nerve block. Postoperative pain, measured with the Modified Objective Pain Score, was the primary endpoint. A significantly lower Modified Objective Pain Score until 24 hours post-extubation was noted in the TTP group vs the no nerve block group. Significantly less fentanyl use was also noted in the TTP group, along with significantly reduced time to extubation and lengths of stay in the ICU and hospital in this group. Overall, it was evident that effective pain relief as well as accelerated recovery was afforded by bilateral TTP blocks in pediatric patients.