European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Caudal epidural analgesia is one of the most commonly performed  regional blocks in paediatric anaesthesia for intra and  post-operative analgesia. However, the mean duration of analgesia provided by local anaesthetics alone is limited .Dexmedetomidine, an α2 agonist, is known for its analgesic effects with lesser side effects. Hence, this study was conducted to know the efficacy and safety of addition of dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in a single shot caudal block in children.
Methods: This study was conducted at M.R Medical college, Kalaburagi .Among 60 children in the age group of 2 – 10 years coming for various elective infraumbilical surgical procedures. They were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group A received caudal 0.25% bupivacaine (1ml/kg) and group B received caudal 0.25% bupivacaine (1ml/kg) with dexmedetomidine (1μg/kg). Pain assessment was done at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 24th hour after the surgery.
Results: A total number of 60 children in the age group of 2 – 10 years belonging to ASA grade I and II were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups of 30 each. Children in group A received caudal bupivacaine 0.25% (1ml/kg). Children in group B received caudal bupivacaine 0.25% (1ml/kg) with dexmedetomidine (1μg/kg)
Conclusion: This study showed that the addition of dexmedetomidine in the dose of 1μg/kg to 0.25% bupivacaine (1ml/kg) improved the analgesic duration and efficacy after a single shot caudal block with minimal side effects in children.