Efficacy of caudal butorphanol

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of butorphanol with or without bupivacaine for caudal epidural anesthesia in children undergoing infraumbilical surgery.Methods: Sixty ASA physical status I and II patients of either sex aged 1–10 yr were randomized to one of three groups. Group L received 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine; Group B received 1 ml/kg of 25 μg/kg butorphanol diluted in normal saline; and Group LB received 1 ml/kg of 25 μg/kg butorphanol in combination with 0.25% patients. Sedation score, pain score, and requirement of rescue analgesia were recorded at preset time intervals alongwith postoperative complications.Results: There was no difference among the groups regarding sedation scores, requirement of rescue analgesia and post-operative complications. Mean duration of analgesia was maximum in group BL (14.5±3.5 hr, P<0.001), than in group L (8.8±4.8 hr) and group B (6.8±2.9 hr).Conclusion: The, addition of 25 μg/kg butorphanol to bupivacaine resulted in superior analgesia with a longer period compared with caudal bupivacaine and butorphanol alone, without an increase of side effects.