[Ultrasound-guided caudal block with ropivacaine in infraumbilical surgeries in pediatric patients]. / Bloqueo caudal ecoguiado con ropivacaína en cirugías infraumbilicales en pacientes pediátricos.

Background: The use of local anesthetics as part of multimodal analgesia is an attractive concept in pediatric patients, since the evaluation and management of pain is a challenge in children under 7 years of age. Despite having guidelines and multiple studies on volume calculation, no safe and effective recommendation has been issued. Objective: To demonstrate that ultrasound-guided caudal block with a dose of 0.75 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine has the same analgesic effect as a dose of 1.2 mL/kg. Material and methods: Randomized, prospective, longitudinal, comparative equivalence clinical trial. One hundred patients 0-7 years of age scheduled for elective or emergency infraumbilical surgery were enrolled between April 2021 and January 2022. Children were randomized 1:1 to be assigned to ultrasound-guided caudal block. Results: 100 patients divided into two groups with 0.2% ropivacaine volumes (0.75 mL vs. 1.2 mL). Both groups demonstrated the trans-anesthetic and post-anesthetic sedoanalgesia variables without significant differences for both groups on the FLACC pain scale after surgery and in recovery (p > 0.5), in the pain reassessment on the FLACC scale in the office called chronic pain (p > 0.5) in both groups. No complications were reported in the follow-up consultations and no arrhythmias were reported in both groups during surgery. Conclusions: the results of both groups did not show differences between a volume of 0.75 mL and 1.2 mL, the administration of 0.2% ropivacaine is favored with the use of ultrasound, which allows effective administration of lower doses of local anesthetic with reduced risk of complications. It is necessary to carry out studies in other types of surgery to compare the use of less volume of local anesthetic compared to the Melman formula used in this study.

Introducción: el uso de anestésicos locales como parte de la analgesia multimodal es un concepto atractivo en pacientes pediátricos, ya que la evaluación y manejo del dolor es un reto en menores de 7 años. A pesar de contar con guías y múltiples estudios del cálculo de volumen no se ha emitido una recomendación segura y eficaz. Objetivo: demostrar que el bloqueo caudal ecoguiado con dosis de 0.75 mL/kg de ropivacaína 0.2% tiene el mismo efecto analgésico que la dosis de 1.2 mL/kg. Material y métodos: ensayo clínico aleatorizado de equivalencia, prospectivo, longitudinal, comparativo. Se enrolaron 100 pacientes de 0-7 años programados para cirugía infraumbilical electiva o de urgencia entre abril del 2021 y enero del 2022. Los niños fueron aleatorizados 1:1 para asignarse a la realización del bloqueo caudal guiado por ultrasonido. Resultados: de los 100 pacientes divididos en dos grupos con volúmenes de ropivacaína 0.2% (0.75 mL frente a 1.2 mL). Ambos grupos demostraron las variables de sedoanalgesia transanestésicas y postanestésicas sin diferencias significativas para ambos grupos en la escala de FLACC de dolor después de la cirugía y en recuperación (p > 0.5), en la revaloración de dolor en la escala de FLACC en el consultorio denominado dolor crónico (p > 0.5) en ambos grupos. No se reportaron complicaciones en las consultas de seguimiento y tampoco arritmias en ambos grupos durante la cirugía. Conclusiones: los resultados en ambos grupos no mostraron diferencias entre un volumen de 0.75 mL y 1.2 mL, la administración de ropivacaina 0.2% se favorece con el empleo de ultrasonido, lo que permite administración eficaz de dosis menores de anestésico local con reducción del riesgo de complicaciones. Es necesario realizar estudios en otros tipos de cirugía para comparar el uso de menos volumen de anestésico local frente a la fórmula de Melman que ocupamos en este estudio.

Gastroschisis repair under caudal anesthesia: a series of three cases / Correção de gastrosquise sob anestesia caudal: uma série de três casos

Abstract Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly characterized by a defect in the anterior abdominal wall with protrusion of abdominal viscera. Perioperative mortality is very high in these patients. Traditionally gastroschisis repair has been performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, requiring postoperative intensive care admission and mechanical ventilation. Caudalblock is an attractive alternative to general anesthesia. We present a series of three neonates with gastroschisis, repaired solely under caudal anesthesia.

Resumo Gastrosquise é uma anomalia congênita caracterizada por um defeito da parede abdominal anterior com protrusão de vísceras abdominais. A mortalidade no período perioperatório é muito elevada nesses pacientes. Tradicionalmente, a correc¸ão de gastrosquise tem sido feita sob anestesia geral com intubac¸ão orotraqueal, o que requer internac¸ão em unidade de terapia intensiva e ventilac¸ão mecânica no pós-operatório. O bloqueio caudal é uma opc¸ão atraente à anestesia geral. Apresentamos uma série de três casos de recém-nascidos com gastrosquise corrigida unicamente sob anestesia caudal.

[Gastroschisis repair under caudal anesthesia: a series of three cases]. / Correção de gastrosquise sob anestesia caudal: uma série de três casos.

Gastroschisis is a congenital anomaly characterized by a defect in the anterior abdominal wall with protrusion of abdominal viscera. Perioperative mortality is very high in these patients. Traditionally gastroschisis repair has been performed under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, requiring postoperative intensive care admission and mechanical ventilation. Caudal block is an attractive alternative to general anesthesia. We present a series of three neonates with gastroschisis, repaired solely under caudal anesthesia.

Anestesia y Analgesia para corrección de extroña vesical. Reporte de tres casos / Anaesthesia and analgesia for bladder exstrophy correction. Case reports

Introduction: Neonatal bladder exstrophy repairs imply correcting the genitourinary malformation, and closing and stabilizing the pelvic girdle with external fixation and traction. Successful results are achieved in terms of reduced urinary incontinence, adequate aesthetic appearance, improved quality of life, reduction of the risk associated with neonatal surgery and minimization of the number of procedures associated with multistage repairs. In such procedures, prolonged perioperative anaesthesia is key for the patient to tolerate the traction and external fixation, to help osteotomy healing, and to reduce tension in the surgical wound. Patients' age and weight have an effect on the risk of toxicity from local anaesthetics and respiratory depression from opioid analgesics. The prolonged use of caudal catheters in the management of these cases is associated with infection at the insertion site. Case presentation: The article presents the cases of three infants between 7 months and 1 year of age taken to bladder exstrophy repair and pelvic osteotomy with tunnelled caudal catheter and continuous local anaesthetic infusion as perioperative anaesthetic management technique. The use of these techniques was aimed at reducing the risk of infection at the insertion site and the risks associated with prolonged pain management in infants. Conclusion: The cases suggest that tunnelled caudal catheter placement and continuous local anaesthetic infusion are safe techniques in the management of prolonged anaesthesia in infants, decreasing the risk of insertion site infection.

Introducción: La corrección de la extrofia vesical en el lactante menor implica la reparación de la malformación genitourinaria y el cierre y estabilización del anillo pélvico utilizando un tutor externo y tracción. Se obtienen resultados exitosos en la continencia urinaria del paciente, adecuado aspecto estético y buena calidad de vida reduciendo el riesgo que implica la cirugía neonatal y minimizando el número de procedimientos. La analgesia postoperatoria prolongada es fundamental para tolerar el tutor y/o la tracción, permitir la cicatrización de las osteotomías y reducir la tensión sobre la herida quirúrgica. La edad y el peso de estos pacientes aumentan el riesgo de toxicidad por anestésico local y de depresión respiratoria con el uso de opioides, al igual que el uso prolongado de catéteres caudales se asocia a infección del sitio de inserción. Presentación de caso: Se describen tres casos de lactantes de 7 meses a 1 ano de edad llevados a corrección de extrofia vesical y osteotomía pélvica mas fijación con tutor externo donde el manejo analgésico postoperatorio se realizó mediante la infusión de anestésico local por catéter caudal tunelizado para prolongar el tiempo de analgesia y reducir el riesgo de infección. Conclusión: Se señala el uso de la tunelización de los catéteres caudales y la infusión continua de anestésico local como técnica segura para el manejo analgésico prologado en el paciente lactante con reducción del riesgo de infección del sitio de inserción.

Anestesia caudal combinada à anestesia geral para cirurgia abdominal em paciente com Síndrome de Edwards: relato de caso / Combined caudal-general anesthesia for an abdominal procedure in a patient with Edwards?s syndrome: case report

Introdução: a síndrome de Edwards, ou trissomia do 18, é uma anomalia cromossômica rara e frequentemente fatal. Os pacientes que sobrevivem têm múltiplas malformações, que resultam em risco anestésico aumentado, mesmo em cirurgias de menor porte. Objetivo: discutir o uso da anestesia caudal, em associação com anestesia geral, como técnica anestésica e analgésica para cirurgia abdominal em criança portadora de síndrome de Edwards. Relato do caso: criança de 75 dias de idade, 2,9 kg, com diagnóstico de síndrome de Edwards e cardiopatia congênita, foi submetida à correção de refluxo gastroesofágico sob anestesia geral combinada ao bloqueio peridural caudal com bupivacaína 0,125%, morfina e clonidina. A anestesia geral foi mantida com sevoflurano, sem a necessidade do uso endovenoso de opioides. O paciente manteve estabilidade durante todo o procedimento cirúrgico. No final da cirurgia, o anestésico inalatório foi suspenso e a paciente foi extubada na sala de ciurgia após 17 minutos. O pós-operatório foi realizado em centro de terapia intensiva, sem intercorrências e sem a necessidade do uso suplementar de analgésicos. Conclusão: a anestesia geral inalatória combinada com o bloqueio caudal mostrou-se técnica anestésica segura e satisfatória em crianças com síndrome de Edwards.

Introduction: Edwards syndrome or trisomy 18 is a rare and often fatal chromosome abnormality. Patients who survive are dysmorphic with multiple malformations leading to an increase anesthetic risk even during small surgery. Objective: to discuss the use of caudal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia as an anesthetic and analgesic technique for abdominal surgery in a child with Edwards?s syndrome. Case report: a girl with 75-day-old, 2.9 kg, with Edward?s syndrome and congenital heart disease who underwent surgical correction of gastroesophageal reflux with combined caudal-general anaesthesia using 0.125% bupivacaine, morphine and clonidine. General anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and no opioid was used. Throughout the procedure, no major changes in the monitored parameters were recorded. At the completion of the procedure, the inhalational agent was discontinued and the patient was extubated in the operating room after 17 min. The postoperative period at the intensive care unit was uneventful and no postoperative analgesics were necessary. Conclusion: inhalatory general anesthesia associated with caudal anesthesia seems to be a good and safe technique in children with Edwards?s syndrome.