Postoperative analgesia; comparison of caudal bupivacaine and bupivacaine - tramadol in children with inguinal hernia repair

ABSTRACT

To compare the effects after caudal bupivacaine alone and bupivacaine-tramadol in young children with inguinal hernia repair. Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia, Children Hospital Complex, Multan. August 2008 to May 2009. A total of 100 children aged between 2-5 years were included in the study. The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in group-A patients [P= 0.001]. A low frequency of postoperative vomiting was observed in both groups i.e. 10% in group-A and 6.7% in group-B [P=0.64]. No respiratory depression, flushing and pruritis were observed. Low dose combination of bypivacaine and tramadol, when administered caudally, had an additive effect and provided prolonged and effective postoperative analgesia with minimal side effects