Comparative Study of Spinal Anaesthesia Versus Caudal Anaesthesia in Lower Paediatric Age Group Patients Undergoing Elective Infraumbilical Surgery

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Regional anaesthesia in children was firststudied by August Bier in 1899 Intraoperative blockade ofthe neuraxis, whether by the spinal or epidural route providesexcellent analgesia with minimal physiologic alteration.This study was done with the primary aim to compare spinalanaesthesia with caudal anaesthesia in lower paediatric agegroup patients undergoing elective infraumbilical surgery forduration of analgesia and hemodynamic stability. We alsocompared the characteristics of sensory and motor block.Material and methods: In this study 100 patients whofulfilled the eligibility criteria were chosen and the procedurewas explained to the patients attendant. After obtainingwritten and informed consent, patients were randomizedinto two equal groups of 50 each. Group S was given spinalanaesthesia- hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) in a dose of 0.5mg/kg was injected. Group C was given caudal block-0.5%plain bupivacaine 2mg/kg plus normal saline. Postoperativelypatients were observed for analgesia, sedation, hemodynamicand complications if any.Result: The sensory level achieved in all cases of group S wasT10 while in group C it was in 93%.Mean onset time, durationand regression of sensory block as well as for motor block washigher in caudal group than spinal group.The time required forfirst supplement was delayed in caudal group.Cries scale wasnot the limiting factor in both the groups.Conclusion: In short surgeries requiring immediate relaxationspinal anaesthesia is preferable while in surgeries withmoderately prolonged duration caudal is preferable.