PERIOPERATIVE EFFECT OF CAUDAL BLOCK ON PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING UROGENITAL SURGERIES

Background Caudal block an important regional anesthesia technique, can produce good analgesic effects and maintain stable hemodynamic. But few studies have shown the effect of caudal block in urogenital surgeries in pediatric population and evaluated its impact on the overall patient outcome. Aim To understand the effect of caudal block on the hemodynamic, perioperative opioid requirement and post operative analgesia in the pediatric patients. Methods Eighty pediatric patients, aged 6 months to 5 years, ASA grade I-II, scheduled to undergo urogenital surgery, were given caudal block with 1.2 ml/kg 0.2% Ropivacaine after induction of general anesthesia . The primary outcome variable was preoperative fentanyl use. The secondary outcome variables were pain score, hemodynamic fluctuation, the number of patients needing rescue fentanyl and side effects. Results Caudal block with 1.2 ml/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine significantly decreased perioperative fentanyl usage. Moreover, patients displayed stable hemodynamics, lower pain score in the PACU and 8 h after operation, less demand for rescue fentanyl, shorter time of PACU stay. Conclusion Caudal block with 1.2 ml/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine helps maintain stable hemodynamic, reduced perioperative opioids use during urogenital surgery on paediatric patients and produced good postoperative analgesia