Caudal block for postoperative analgesia in children

A clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of intramuscular dihydrocodeine with caudal bupivacaine on postoperative pain and recovery in 181 children who had undergone either circumcision, inguinal herniotomy or orchidopexy performed under general anaesthesia. Linear analogues were used in assess level of consciousness and apparent pain. Recovery of consciousness was slower after caudal analgesia. For 90 minutes following circumcision there was significantly less pain and caudal analgesia, but better pain relief could not be demonstrated following inguinal herniotomy and orchidopexy.     

Caudal block anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy

Objective  

Transrectal prostate biopsy is a potentially painful procedure. Our service has significant experience with caudal anesthesia for perianal procedures. This study is aimed to determine the effectiveness of caudal anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy.     

Caudal block complication in a patient with trisomy 13

In this report we describe a complication of a caudal block in a 4-year-old child with trisomy 13. The patient's history was remarkable for microcephaly, developmental delay, seizures, apnea, and prolonged emergence times. Induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation were uneventful. A caudal block was aborted after positive aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid. A radiogram suggestive of spinal dysraphism, found on subsequent review, was confirmed by a magnetic resonance imaging scan consistent with tethered cord and dural ectasia. Congenital abnormalities associated with trisomy 13 and cutaneous signs suggestive of spinal abnormalities are reviewed. Avoidance of neuraxial regional anesthesia in these patients is recommended.     

Caudal block in children: ropivacaine compared with bupivacaine.

BACKGROUND: Bupivacaine provides reliable, long-lasting anesthesia and analgesia when given via the caudal route. Ropivacaine is a newer, long-acting local anesthetic that (at a concentration providing similar pain relief) has less motor nerve blockade and may have less cardiotoxicity than bupivacaine. METHODS: In a double-blind trial, 81 healthy children, undergoing ambulatory surgical procedures, were randomly allocated to receive caudal analgesia with either bupivacaine or ropivacaine, 0.25%, 1 mVkg. All blocks were placed by an attending anesthesiologist or an anesthesia fellow after induction of general anesthesia. RESULTS: Data were available for 75 children. There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics or in anesthesia, surgery, recovery room, or day surgery unit durations. The quality and duration of postoperative pain relief did not differ. Motor and sensory effects were similar. Time to first micturition did not differ. CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine (0.25%, 1 ml/kg) provided adequate postoperative analgesia with no difference from bupivacaine (0.25%, 1 ml/kg) in quality and duration of pain relief, motor and sensory effects, or time to first micturition in our study children.     

罗哌卡因-曲马多骶管阻滞在小儿尿道下裂成形术后的镇痛效果观察

目的观察罗哌卡因复合曲马多骶管阻滞与单独应用罗哌卡因、曲马多,对小儿尿道下裂成形术后镇痛时间、疼痛评分、镇痛次数、睡眠质量满意度和并发症的影响。探讨罗哌卡因复合曲马多和单独应用曲马多、罗哌卡因能否提供满意的术后镇痛。方法选取自2012年6月～2013年2月于我院行尿道下裂成形术的患儿66名,美国麻醉医师协会（ASA）分级Ⅰ级,年龄1岁-6岁,采用完全随机设计的方法分为3组（每组22例）：0．2％罗哌卡因1ml／kg组（L组）、0．2％罗哌卡因1ml／kg＋曲马多1．5mg／kg组（LT组）、0．9％氯化钠1ml／kg＋曲马多1．5mg／kg组（T组）。麻醉维持均采用骶管阻滞复合全凭七氟醚吸入全麻。观察并记录镇痛维持时间（骶管阻滞到术后第1次镇痛给药的时间）,术毕患儿清醒1、2、4、6、12、24h三点疼痛评分,术后24h镇痛次数,睡眠质量满意度评估,并发症等。结果镇痛时间比较,LT组（14．5±2．5）h比其他两组明显延长（P〈0．05）。3组疼痛评分在2h前差异无统计学意义,2h到6hT组与L组、LT组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。T组与LT组、L组比较,术后24h所需镇痛次数明显加（P〈0．05）。术后寒战发生率L组为18％,而LT组、T组为0。3组患儿术毕清醒均未出现运动神经阻滞,呕吐次数也无明显增加。LT组100％的患儿父母对患儿术后24h睡眠质量满意度为优和良。结论0．2％罗哌卡因1ml／kg复合曲马多1．5mg／kg骶管阻滞用于6岁以下小儿尿道下裂成形术后镇痛是安全、有效的,可有效镇痛（14．5±2．5）h,并发症少且能有效减少术后寒战的发生。     

Caudal block in children: analgesia and respiratory effect of the combination bupivacaine-fentanyl]

A study of the duration of analgesia and of the respiratory response to hypercapnia was carried out in 14 children who had had a caudal block with either bupivacaine alone (group B) or combined with fentanyl (Group B+F). Fourteen ASA I or II 5 to 10-year-old children undergoing genital and urinary surgery were included. They were not premedicated. At first, general anaesthesia was induced with halothane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. Thereafter, caudal anaesthesia was then carried out with 1 ml.kg-1 of 0.25% bupivacaine with adrenaline 1 in 200,000. Group B+F patients were also given 1 microgram.kg-1 of fentanyl in 1 ml of normal saline, and those in Group B 1 ml of normal saline. The level of sensory loss on leaving the operating theatre as well as the duration of motor paralysis were monitored. Postoperative pain was scored with Hannalah and Broadman's score (0 to 10) 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after the caudal block. Respiratory rate (fR), tidal volume (VT) and minute ventilation (VE) were assessed 10 min before induction of general anaesthesia, and 30, 60 and 120 min after the caudal anaesthesia. Petco2 was also measured before induction of general anaesthesia, and 60 and 120 min after caudal anaesthesia; at the same times, the ventilatory response to hypercapnia was assessed using Read's method with a Douglas bag containing 7% CO2 and 93% O2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Analgesia after inguinal herniorrhaphy with laparoscopic inspection of the peritoneum in children. Caudal block versus ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric block

The authors prospectively evaluated the efficacy of caudal epidural block versus local infiltration combined with ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric block for analgesia after inguinal herniorrhaphy with laparoscopic inspection of the peritoneum. During standardized anesthetic care, 24 children were randomized to Group I (caudal epidural block with 1.2 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine) or to Group II (local infiltration with an ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric block). Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower at all four evaluation points in Group I than in Group II. Patients in Group I had a significantly decreased requirement for supplemental intravenous fentanyl. Intra-operative requirements for isoflurane were decreased in Group I. The expired concentration of isoflurane was 0.4 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SEM) in Group I and 1.5 +/- 0.3 in Group II. Time to extubation was 3.8 +/- 0.5 minutes in Group I and 8.2 +/- 1.1 minutes in Group II. The time from arrival in the postanesthesia care unit until discharge home was 113 +/- 3 minutes in Group I and 152 +/- 11 minutes in Group II. Caudal epidural block was more effective than local infiltration in controlling pain after herniorrhaphy with laparoscopy in children and resulted in earlier discharge home.     

Caudal blocks

Caudal anesthesia is the single most important pediatric regional anesthetic technique. The technique is relatively easy to learn (1), has a remarkable safety record (2), and can be used for a large variety of procedures. The technique has been reviewed in the English (3) and French (4) literature, as well as in German guidelines (5) and in pediatric anesthesia textbooks (6).