Caudal Anesthesia for Pediatric Subumbilical Surgery, Less Load on the Postoperative Recovery Unit.

Introduction Caudal epidural anesthesia, when used as a sole method for surgical anesthesia, has favorable effects on the recovery duration and the time spent in the recovery unit. In this study we made a retrospective analysis of pediatric surgery operations under local, regional and general anesthesia. We aimed to find shorter postoperative recovery times with local and regional anesthesia. Materials and methods Data of the pediatric patients undergone subumbilical surgery during the two-year period in Pediatric Surgery clinic were collected. The patients' age, sex, surgery type, anesthesia and airway control routes, as well as duration of anesthesia, operation and recovery were obtained. Results Data of 937 patients were analyzed, of whom 811 (86.6%) were males. Caudal anesthesia was performed in 240 patients (25.6%) and the mean age of these patients was 3.83 ± 3.00 years. The patients with caudal and local anesthesia spent significantly less time in the postoperative recovery unit, compared with general anesthesia groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion Caudal anesthesia as a sole method for pediatric subumbilical surgery is a relatively safe method. Patients having operation under caudal anesthesia have faster discharge times from postoperative recovery units, compared with general anesthesia. This probably reduces recovery unit expenditures.

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the umbilicus: Case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Shunt catheters within the peritoneal cavity have migrated through and perforated almost all the intra-abdominal hollow viscera. An umbilical cerebrospinal fluid fistula following a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is an extremely rare complication. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 8-month-old infant who presented with leak of clear fluid from the umbilicus, seven months after a ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation. We could not see distal tip of the shunt on examination. After the operation, the patient's follow-up was uneventful. DISCUSSION: The direct effect of CSF and VP shunt, such as chronic irrigation, silicon allergy, foreign body reaction, may cause sterile inflammation on the abdominal structures and this inflammation may soften tissue and cause CFS leakage and VP shunt extrusion. CONCLUSION: If the distal tip detected on umbilical region, these patients should be examined frequently for umbilical shunt pathologies, especially infants.