ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the duration and safety of single dose caudal epidural with bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in children
Design: A descriptive study
Setting: Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana from February 2002 to September 2004
Patients and Methods: One hundred and seventy six boys, ASA-I, between the ages of 2 to 8 years, scheduled for inguinal or penile surgery, were randomly assigned in a prospective fashion to receive single shot caudal epidural with bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.75ml.kg-1, and studied for postoperative pain relief. Pain was evaluated by using faces pain scale. Analgesia was administered when pain scale was 3-4. Postoperative complications were also noted
Results: Mean duration of analgesia was 10.43 +/- 3.4 hours. Time for micturation was 161.79 +/- 83.2 minutes while time to stand was 161.21 +/- 69.65 minutes. Haemodynamic and respiratory parameters remained stable during the observation period. Frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting was 7% while urinary retention occurred in 1.4% patients
Conclusion: Caudal epidural analgesia with bupivacaine 0.25% in a dose of 0.75ml.kg-1 provides safe and effective postoperative pain relief in children undergoing inguinal and penile surgery, with very few complications