Comparison of Post-operative Analgesic Efficacy of Caudal Epidural Bupivacaine Versus Bupivacaine and Neostigmine Combination in Infraumbilical Surgeries in Children.

Spinal muscarinic M1 receptors are believed to be involved in the analgesic properties of spinal neostigmine. Aims were to determine the effect of adding neostigmine to bupivacaine on the duration of caudal analgesia as compared with caudal bupivacaine alone, to determine the need for rescue analgesics in the post-operative period. Material and Methods: 50 patients of ASA Grade I and II, aged between 2 to 8 years, of either sex underwent infraumbilical surgeries. Post-operative caudal epidural analgesia was activated after completion of the surgery and before recovery from anaesthesia Group-A (n=25) received caudal epidural injection of preservative free bupivacaine 0.125%. 2 mg/kg, Group-B (n=25) received both preservative free bupivacaine 0.125% and neostigmine 2μg/kg. Results and Analysis: After extubation children were evaluated for pain using the CHEOPS pain scale, shows no significant difference between the two study groups at 2 post-operative hours. Group B patients required less rescue analgesic than Group A patients in 24 hrs postoperative period. Conclusion: Addition of neostigmine to bupivacaine in caudal epidural bupivacaine prolonged the duration of caudal analgesia in the post-operative period compared to caudal bupivacaine alone.