Nonopioid options for postsurgical pain management in pediatric patients remain few, but a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia (2021;75:110503) suggests that liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel, Pacira BioSciences) is safe in this group. Results from this trial, called the PLAY study, led to the subsequent FDA approval of the use of liposomal bupivacaine single-dose infiltration in patients 6 years of age and older.
The PLAY study, a multicenter, open-label, phase 3 randomized trial,