Correlation of Block Success with Perfusion Index Measurement in Cases of Pediatric Surgery Under Caudal Epidural Block Anesthesia.

PURPOSE: One of the regional anesthetic procedures, caudal epidural block, is important for lower extremities surgeries in the pediatric patient population. The perfusion index (PI) value, which reflects vasomotor tone, can be used to indicate block success. The aim was to compare the role of perfusion index, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure in detecting the success of caudal epidural block and to investigate whether perfusion index was an earlier indicator in determining the success of the block in pediatric surgery cases. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The study included 58 patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists'classification 1, between the ages 1 and 6 years. In the left lateral decubitus posture, caudal epidural block was performed using a 23 or 25-gauge caudal needle and a dosage of 0.25% bupivacaine (1 mL/kg). At the 0, 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20th minutes, peripheral oxygen saturation, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and PI values were obtained using a probe attached to the first toe of the left foot. A successful caudal epidural block indication was defined as an increase of at least 100% in the PI value over the baseline value and a 15% decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart rate FINDINGS: PI represents the ratio of the photoplethysmography signal to pulsatile over nonpulsatile light absorbance. An increase in the PI value indicates that the block is effective. In the 20-minute follow-up period after caudal epidural block, there was at least a 100% increase in PI value in all of the patients at the seventh minute. An expected 15% reduction in mean arterial pressure was observed in 14.5% of the patients and an expected 15% reduction in heart rate was observed in 45.6% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from our study show that the increase in PI values is associated with caudal epidural block success. The PI value is more rapid, sensitive and objective than those produced by other parameters. Benefits include an earlier change in anesthesia management due to block failure and faster initiation to surgery, which reduces exposure to anesthetic chemicals.

The Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC95) of different volumes of ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided caudal epidural block: a dose-finding study.

BACKGROUND: Caudal epidural block (CEB) may be beneficial in anorectal surgery because its use may extend postoperative analgesia. This dose-finding study aimed to estimate the minimum effective anesthetic concentrations for 95% patients(MEC95) of 20 ml or 25 ml of ropivacaine in with CEB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this double-blind, prospective study, the concentration of ropivacaine administered in 20 ml and 25 ml for ultrasound-guided CEB were determined using the sample up-and-down sequential allocation study design of binary response variables. The first participant was given 0.5% ropivacaine. Depending on whether a block was successful or unsuccessful, the concentration of local anesthesia was decreased or increased by 0.025% in the next patient. Every five minutes for 30 min, the sensory blockade using a pin-prick sensation at S3 dermatome compared to at T6 dermatome were evaluated every 5 min within 30 min. An effective CEB was defined as a a reduction of sensation at S3 dermatome and the existence of flaccid anal sphincter. Anesthesia was considered successful if the surgeon could perform the surgery without additional anesthesia. We determined the MEC50 using the Dixon and Massey up-and-down method and estimated the MEC95 using probit regression. RESULTS: The concentration of ropivacaine administered in 20 ml for CEB ranged from 0.2% to 0.5%. Probit regression with a bias-corrected Morris 95% CI derived by bootstrapping showed an MEC50 and MEC 50 of ropivacaine for anorectal surgical anesthesia were 0.27% (95% CI, 0.24 to 0.31) and 0.36%(95% CI, 0.32 to 0.61). The concentration of ropivacaine administered in 25 ml for CEB ranged from 0.175 to 0.5. Probit regression with a bias-corrected Morris 95% CI derived by bootstrapping showed an MEC50 and MEC95 for CEB were 0.24% (95% CI, 0.19 to 0.27) and 0.32% (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.54). CONCLUSION: With ultrasound-guided CEB, the MEC95 of 0.36% ropivacaine at 20 ml and 0.32% ropivacaine at 25 ml provide adequate surgical anesthesia/analgesia 95% of patients undergoing anorectoal surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrails.gov: Retrospectively registered (ChiCTR2100042954; Registration date:1/2, 2021).

Anatomical Evaluation of the Sacral Hiatus Using Ultrasound Imaging: Factors That Inhibit Needle Insertion During Caudal Epidural Block Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Caudal epidural blocks often fail due to the difficulty of appropriate needle insertion. This study aimed to evaluate the anatomy of the sacral hiatus using ultrasound imaging. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 76 patients with spinal disorders. The following factors were analyzed to see if they affected the palpability of the sacral hiatus: sex, body mass index (BMI), and the morphology of the sacral hiatus on ultrasound imaging. The difficulty of needle insertion and the factors that influenced it were investigated in 28 of the 76 patients, who underwent landmark-based caudal epidural block procedures performed by the same doctor. RESULTS: Among the 76 patients, the mean length of the sacral hiatus was 21.3 ± 5.6 mm, the mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua was 5.2 ± 3.4 mm, and the mean angle of the sacral hiatus was 16.4 ± 5.5 degrees. Sacral base protrusion was present and absent in 35 and 41 cases, respectively. The sacral hiatus exhibited good and poor palpability in 53 and 23 cases, respectively. The mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua and BMI were found to significantly influence the palpability of the sacral hiatus. Only sacral base protrusion significantly influenced the difficulty of needle insertion. CONCLUSION: The mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua and BMI were found to be associated with the palpability of the sacral hiatus, and sacral base protrusion was demonstrated to be associated with the difficulty of needle insertion into the sacral hiatus.

Effect of caudal bupivacaine alone and with adjuvant fentanyl and nalbuphine to minimize the catheter-related bladder discomfort after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is a major cause of postoperative morbidity following urological procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of caudal bupivacaine alone and with adjuvant fentanyl and nalbuphine to minimize the severity of CRBD after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized prospective study was conducted on one hundred thirty-two (American society of Anaesthesiologist physical status I to II) patients who presented for tubeless PCNL under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly divided into four groups control (C), bupivacaine (B), bupivacaine-fentanyl (BF), and bupivacaine-nalbuphine (BN) by using computer-generated codes. All patients received local infiltration at the procedure site while Groups B, BF, and BN received caudal epidural block (CEB) under ultrasound guidance after conclusion of the procedure. Groups B, BF, and BN received bupivacaine alone, bupivacaine-fentanyl, and bupivacaine-nalbuphine, respectively, for CEB. Patients were monitored 24 h for CRBD scale, visual analogue score (VAS), and duration of analgesia at 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h intervals. The analgesics were supplemented if the CRBD score was >2 and VAS was ≥4. Student t-test, analysis of variance, and Chi-square test were applied for quantitative, within group occurrence, and qualitative analysis respectively. RESULTS: The CRBD scores were considerably lower in the Groups BF and BN as compared to Groups C and B during the first four hours. The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group BN (475 ± 47 min) versus BF (320 ± 68 min) versus B (104 ± 40 min) versus C (26 ± 14 min). CONCLUSIONS: The severity of CRBD can be reduced with CEB. The effect of CEB can be prolonged with the addition of opioid.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block, quadratus lumborum block, and caudal epidural block for perioperative analgesia in pediatric lower abdominal surgery

Background/aim: Despite different regional anesthesia techniques used to provide intraoperative and postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients, the analgesic effectiveness of peripheral nerve blockades with minimal side effect profiles have not yet been fully determined. We aimed to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, quadratus lumborum (QL) block, and caudal epidural block on perioperative analgesia in pediatric patients aged between 6 months and 14 years who underwent elective unilateral lower abdominal wall surgery. Materials and methods: Ninety-four patients classified under the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system as ASA I or ASA II were randomly divided into 3 equal groups to perform TAP, QL or Caudal epidural block using 0.25% of bupivacaine solution (0.5 ml kg−1). Results: Postoperative analgesic consumption was highest in the TAP block group (P < 0.05). In the QL block group, Pediatric Objective Pain Scale (POAS) scores were statistically significantly lower after 2 and 4 h (P < 0.05). The length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the caudal block group than the QL block group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that analgesia with ultrasound-guided QL block should be considered as an option for perioperative analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery if the expertise and equipment are available.

Anatomy of the sacral hiatus and its clinical relevance in caudal epidural block.

PURPOSE: Caudal epidural anesthesia (CEB) is widely used for the prevention of chronic lower back pain, the control of intraoperative analgesia such as genitourinary surgery and labor pain cases in sacral epidural space approach for the implementation of analgesia. CEB is an anesthetic solution used into the sacral canal via sacral hiatus (SH). For optimal access into the sacral epidural space, detailed anatomical landmarks of SH are required. This study aims at exploring the anatomical structures and differences of the SH by using the sacral bone as a guide point to failure criteria for reviewing the caudal epidural anesthesia and improving the criteria for success in practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Detailed morphometric measurements of orientation points of the SH were taken in 87 sacral bones. The measurements were taken using digital calipers and calculated with photogrammetric methods using Image J program. RESULTS: Most commonly encountered shape of the SH was inverted U (33.33%), while 6.9% 3.45% often lack SH and bifida shape were found. The average length of the SH was 28.7 ± 7.1 mm, the average distance of the intercornual distance was 13.48 ± 2.69 mm, the average of the apex of SH and S2 sacral foramen was 34.68 ± 7.09 mm. There was no statistically significant difference determined in bilateral measurements (p > 0.05). Apex and base of SH were most commonly observed against S4 and S5 vertebrae, respectively. The level of maximum curvature of sacrum was S3 in 62.07% and S4 in 28.78%. Findings of spina bifida level were found 16.13% often in L5-S1 segment. Sacral cornua were marked by their bilateral presence in 55.26% and impalpable in 21.05% cases. Minimum distance between the S2 and the apex of the SH was 7.25 mm which suggested that it would not be safe to push the needle beyond 7 mm into the sacral canal so as to avoid dural puncture. In 8.77% cases, the depth of hiatus was less than 3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Single bony landmark may not help in locating the SH because of the anatomical variations. Important anatomical landmarks of the CEB are the sacral cornu, lateral sacral crests, the apex of the SH, the base of the SH, the top portion of the median sacral crest, anteroposterior distance of the sacral canal, intercornual distance, distance of the apex of the SH to the S2 foramina. Depth of hiatus less than 3 mm may be one of the causes for the failure of needle insertion. Surrounding bony irregularities, different shapes of hiatus and defects in dorsal wall of sacral canal should be taken into consideration before undertaking CEB so as to avoid its failure. This guide can be done by considering the points and securing a successful venture.

Paraplegia Following Ultrasound-Guided Caudal Epidural Block in Chronic Lumbosciatica: What Can Be Learned From This Complication?

Caudal epidural block is a procedure that involves the injection of anesthetic agents through the sacral hiatus, commonly used for regional anesthesia. It is also valuable for chronic pain management in lumbosacral conditions, trauma, and palliative care. Ultrasound-guided caudal epidural blocks can be an alternative to fluoroscopy-guided techniques and have demonstrated a notably high success rate. However, despite both techniques being generally regarded as safe, they can lead to severe complications, such as abscesses, epidural hematomas, and subdural punctures. Furthermore, documented instances of lumbosacral region anomalies, stemming from either anatomical variations or underlying pathology, have been associated with an elevated risk of some of these complications. The authors report a rare case of paraplegia following an ultrasound-guided caudal block in a patient with refractory chronic lumbosciatica. This case underscores the need for vigilance in risk assessment and detailed procedural planning. It also highlights the importance of transparent communication, particularly during informed consent, to convey risks and benefits to the patient and their family.

Comparison Between Relative Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block and Caudal Epidural Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Lumbar Fusion Surgery- A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled double-blinded study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative efficacy of ultrasound-guided ESPB and CEB for postoperative analgesia after a single-level lumbar fusion surgery and compared it with conventional multimodal analgesia. METHODS: 81 patients requiring single-level lumbar fusion surgery were randomly allocated into 3 groups (ESPB group, CEB group, and the control group). Demographic and surgical data (blood loss, duration of surgery, perioperative total opioid consumption, muscle relaxants used) were assessed. Postoperatively, the surgical site pain, alertness scale, satisfaction score, time to mobilization, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: The total opioid consumption in the first 24 hours was significantly lower in both the block groups than in the control group (103.70 ± 13.34 vs 105 ± 16.01 vs 142.59 ± 40.91mcg; P < .001). The total muscle relaxant consumption was also significantly less in block groups compared to controls (50.93 ± 1.98 vs 52.04 ± 3.47 vs 55.00 ± 5.29 mg; P < .001). The intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in both the block group (327.78 ± 40.03 mL, 380.74 ± 77.80 mL) than the control group (498.89 ± 71.22 mL) (P < .001). Among the block groups, the immediate postoperative pain relief was better in the CEB group, however, the ESPB group had a longer duration of postoperative pain relief. CONCLUSION: Both ESPB and CEB produce adequate postoperative analgesia after lumbar fusion however the duration of action was significantly longer in the ESPB group with relatively shorter surgical time and lesser blood loss compared to the CEB group.

The effect of caudal epidural block on the surgical complications of hypospadias repair in children aged 6 to 35 months: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Caudal epidural block (CEB) in hypospadias surgery has the benefit of reducing post-operative pain and possibly intra-operative bleeding. Some studies, however, have suggested that this technique may increase the rate of post-operative complications. Considering the uncertainty about the effect of CEB on surgical complications of hypospadias repair, the current study was performed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to compare the complication rates between patients who receive CEB after hypospadias surgery and those who did not. STUDY DESIGN: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on boys aged 6-35 months, who underwent hypospadias repair surgery in a university hospital from March 2018 to March 2019. Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups (group A: 31 and group B: 29). In group B, CEB was performed, using 0.5 mg/kg of 0.125% bupivacaine (Marcaine). Postoperative complications including fistula, meatal stenosis, dehiscence, and occurrence of bleeding were assessed during six months after surgery. RESULTS: The patients were assessed for possible complications at 24 h, one week, one, three and six months after surgery. No remarkable differences were observed between the patients in the two groups in terms of the frequency of dehiscence, fistula, and meatal stenosis (P > 0.05). Moreover, the difference in complication rates between the patients with proximal and distal hypospadias did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.549). DISCUSSION: Assessment of complications showed no significant difference between the two study groups in terms of dehiscence, fistula, and meatal stenosis (Clavien type III). In addition, complication rate was not significantly different according to severity of hypospadias between the two groups. Our study had limitations such as short follow up and small sample size, which resulted in insignificant difference in complication rate between proximal and distal hypospadias. These limitations request large studies with long term follow up. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that the use of caudal block anesthesia in comparison with general anesthesia did not increase surgical complications, which approved CEB protocol as a safe method in hypospadias repair.

Incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula following distal hypospadias repair with and without caudal epidural block: A randomized pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Recent investigations have raised a doubt regarding the safety of Caudal epidural block (CEB) administered to children with distal hypospadias undergoing tubularised incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty. The primary objective of the study was to investigate whether there is any association between CEB and the occurrence of urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF) in the postoperative period. METHODS: Fifty ASA 1 and 2 children with distal hypospadias aged 0-8 years were randomly allocated to CEB group (GA with CEB, 0.2% ropivacaine 1 ml/kg; n = 25) and Non-CEB group (GA without CEB; n = 25). Penile measurements were taken before and 20 min after administration of CEB to assess penile engorgement. Intraoperative hemodynamics were recorded at 10 min intervals after induction of anaesthesia. Consumption of IV fentanyl intraoperatively and postoperatively in first 24 h was recorded in both the groups. Rescue analgesia was administered for a score >4 on FLACC scale. After surgery children were followed up monthly for first three months and then at 6-months and yearly in paediatric surgery OPD to assess for development of UCF. RESULTS: UCF was found to occur in only two children, one from each group on follow up, with an overall incidence of 4%. There was no difference in the incidence of UCF in the patients with and without CEB. A 26.8% increase in penile volume from baseline was recorded in CEB group (P = 0.000). The intraoperative heart rate and mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in the CEB group as compared to non CEB group at various time intervals. No additional intraoperative IV fentanyl supplementation was required in CEB group. Fentanyl consumption was significantly less in CEB group postoperatively in first 24 h (P = 0.000). DISCUSSION: Administration of CEB was not found to have any impact on UCF formation. No relationship between the increase in penile volume after CEB block and occurrence of UCF was noticed. CONCLUSION: Despite increase in penile volume after CEB, there was no difference between the two groups as regards to the occurrence of post operative UCF. CEB is an effective analgesic modality and can be continued to be used till the results of well powered prospective randomised trials with long follow up are reported.

Delayed cauda equina syndrome by nerve root incarceration after caudal epidural block: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Caudal epidural block has been commonly practiced in recent years and is used for management of pain before surgery and chronic back pain in adult spine diseases. CASE PRESENTATION: A 58-year-old man visited the outpatient clinic complaining of recently aggravated severe low back pain, saddle anesthesia, and unbearable radiating pain in his left leg, with a previous history of caudal epidural block. He had problems with bladder and bowel function. Emergency exploration for cauda equina syndrome (CES) was performed. Decompression, extradural herniation, and entrapment of a cauda equina filament through a dural defect were observed, and surgical reduction with dural repair was performed. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The clinical signs at onset suggested cauda equina dysfunction after caudal epidural block. Magnetic resonance imaging showed spinal canal stenosis with a paracentral herniated intervertebral disc at the L4-L5 level without any other dural or nerve root abnormality. Exploration was the only option to identify the lesion. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of CES caused by extradural nerve root herniation and strangulation after caudal epidural block.

Dorsal penile block versus caudal epidural anesthesia effect on complications post-hypospadias repair: Dilemmas, damned dilemmas and statistics.

The evidence examining the effects of regional blocks on complications posthypospadias repair has been controversial. Nine observational studies have been published thus far, with inconsistent and somewhat contradictory results. In this educational article, we attempt to explain the concepts of study accuracy and precision in the context of the hypospadias literature to shed some light on the reasons behind those controversies. Methodological issues such as selection bias, confounding effect, sample size, confidence interval and study generalizability from studies involving dorsal penile block versus caudal epidural anesthesia in hypospadias repair are discussed.

Caudal epidural block versus ultrasound-guided dorsal penile nerve block for pediatric distal hypospadias surgery: A prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: The surgery of hypospadias is very painful in the postoperative period and requires long-term analgesia. A dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) and caudal epidural block (CEB) are commonly used regional anesthesia techniques for postoperative pain control. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of the prospective, observational study was to use the duration until the first postoperative analgesic requirement after two different block techniques to compare the analgesic effect. The secondary aims were to compare the two methods for postoperative Children's Hospital Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) scores, complications and parental satisfaction level. STUDY DESIGN: This study was conducted with male patients aged 1-5 years in the ASA I-II group, who were scheduled for hypospadias surgery. A CEB or ultrasound (US)-guided DPNB with the in-plane technique was administered under general anesthesia before the operation. Postoperative analgesic need, postoperative pain, complications and parental satisfaction were noted. STROBE checklist was followed for reporting. RESULTS: The study was conducted with 26 patients in total, divided into 13 patients receiving CEB and 13 patients receiving DPNB. The mean CHEOPS score (p = 0.003) and 12th hour CHEOPS score (p = 0.003) were statistically significantly higher in the CEB group than the DPNB group. The need for additional postoperative analgesia was higher in the CEB group than the DPNB group (p < 0.001). No complications were seen in two groups. DISCUSSION: Dorsal penile nerve block with the US-guided in-plane technique provided effective and long-lasting postoperative analgesia for hypospadias surgery. CONCLUSION: The postoperative analgesia was better with DPNB than with CEB in hypospadias surgery, particularly in the first 12 h. Parental satisfaction was higher with DPNB thanks to the minimum postoperative analgesia requirement and lack of complications. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT04215874.

Effectiveness of caudal epidural block on interaoperative blood loss during hypospadias repair: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative blood loss is considered to be an important issue in hypospadias surgery. Some studies have demonstrated the utility of caudal epidural block (CEB) in this regard among pediatric patients with hypospadias. Though there is evidence in favor of the use of CEB as the only anesthetic method for pediatric surgeries, it is usually used in combination with general anesthesia. In this form of use, it could have more favorable outcomes for both intra- and postoperative periods. There are few studies regarding the effectiveness of CEB on intraoperative blood loss. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the utility of CEB on blood loss, operation time, and analgesic use during hypospadias repairs of pediatric population referred to our university hospitals. STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized clinical trial, consecutive patients with hypospadias who were candidate for surgery were enrolled and randomly allocated to one of the two groups: group A received caudal epidural block (CEB) plus general anesthesia (GA) before surgery and group B received only GA. Intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and dose of fentanyl used during the procedure were recorded and compared. All surgeries were performed by a single pediatric urologist in two different university hospitals that was not blinded to the study groups. RESULTS: In this study, 57 pediatric patients with hypospadias who underwent surgical repair were studied, from which 29 and 28 patients were allocated to receive or not to receive preoperative CEB, respectively. The patients' age, weight, ASA, score and severity of hypospadias were not significantly different between the two groups. The operation time was significantly lower in the CEB before surgery group (p < 0.05). The mean dose of fentanyl and volume of blood loss during procedure were lower in the CEB group, although for fentanyl it approached but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: The findings of current study indicated that caudal epidural anesthesia in addition to general anesthesia has a favorable effect on reducing blood loss during operation, operation time, and analgesic use. Our data confirm the findings of previous studies in this field. Further studies are recommended to evaluate the effect of this type of analgesia in other outcomes of hypospadias repair surgery. Our results could be used for revising existing surgical guidelines for better management of hypospadias.

A comparison of ropivacaine, ropivacaine with tramadol and ropivacaine with midazolam for post-operative caudal epidural analgesia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Caudal epidural analgesia is the most commonly used method of post-operative analgesia in children undergoing subumbilical surgeries. Many additive drugs have been used to prolong the post-operative analgesia. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of tramadol or midazolam addition to caudal ropivacaine for post-operative analgesia in children undergoing subumbilical surgeries. METHODS: In this prospective, randomised, double-blinded comparative study, sixty children of either gender, in the age group of 1-5 years and scheduled for elective subumbilical surgeries were randomly divided into three groups of twenty each. Children in Group R received an epidural injection of 1 mL/kg of 0.2% plain ropivacaine whereas children in Group RT received an epidural injection of 2 mg/kg of tramadol plus 1 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine and Group RM received an epidural injection of 50 µg/kg midazolam plus 1 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine. The primary outcome variable was the duration of time to rescue analgesia. The secondary outcome variables were motor block, sedation score and urinary retention. Statistical comparison among the three groups was performed using one-way ANOVA with post hoc analysis using Bonferroni. For qualitative variables, Chi-square test was used. Statistical significance was defined as P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean duration of time to rescue analgesia was significantly longer (P < 0.001) in Group RT (913 ± 315.5 min) and Group RM (769.2 ± 331.9 min) compared to Group R (437.75 ± 75.68 min). However, there was no significant difference in the duration of time to rescue analgesia between RT and RM groups. Motor block and sedation scores were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of tramadol or midazolam to caudal epidural ropivacaine prolongs the duration of analgesia without causing significant side effects.

Caudal epidural blockade in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Various options are available for the provision of analgesia following major surgical procedures including systemic opioids and regional anesthetic techniques. Regional anesthetic techniques offer the advantage of providing analgesia while avoiding the deleterious adverse effects associated with opioids including nausea, vomiting, sedation and respiratory depression. Although used commonly in infants and children, there is a paucity of experience with the use of caudal epidural blockade in adolescents. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative care of adolescents undergoing major urologic or orthopedic surgical procedures for whom a caudal epidural block was placed for postoperative analgesia. RESULTS: The cohort for the study included 5 adolescents, ranging in age from 13 to 18 years and in weight from 42 to 71 kilograms. Caudal epidural analgesia was accomplished after the induction of anesthesia and prior to the start of the surgical procedure using 20-25 mL of either 0.25% bupivacaine or 0.2% ropivacaine with clonidine (1 µg/kg). The patients denied pain the recovery room. The time to first request for analgesia varied from 12 to 18 hours with the patients requiring 1-3 doses of analgesic agents during the initial 24 postoperative hours. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience demonstrates the efficacy of caudal epidural block in providing analgesia following major urologic and orthopedic surgical procedures. The applications of this technique as a means of providing postoperative analgesia are discussed.

Neurolytic Caudal Epidural Block for Rectal Tenesmus: A Case Report

Rectal tenesmus is a very uncomfortable symptom. Though antiarrhythmic drugs and nerve blocks have been proposed as a treatment for rectal tenesmus, none is well-established. We report a 68-year-old female who undertook surgery for uterine cervical cancer and underwent chemotherapy. She got a bilateral nephrostomy and bowel obstruction during the chemotherapy because of recurrence. She decided to stop chemotherapy and to receive palliative care. She had a symptom of rectal tenesmus, which was refractory to medications. The clinical sign was severe and uncomfortable, making her very nervous. We planned to treat the rectal tenesmus with a nerve block. A ganglion impar block was insufficient to remove the symptom, and the saddle block failed due to epidural lipomatosis. We finally succeeded in alleviating the sign with a neurolytic caudal epidural block. Relief of tenesmus made her hope to spend her final period at home. She could stay at home with her family for seven days before death without recurrence of the symptom. Though there is no report about the effectiveness of neurolytic caudal epidural block for rectal tenesmus, we consider the block appropriate for the symptom.

Motor Weakness after Caudal Epidural Injection Using the Air-acceptance Test.

Air injected into the epidural space may spread along the nerves of the paravertebral space. Depending on the location of the air, neurologic complications such as multiradicular syndrome, lumbar root compression, and even paraplegia may occur. However, cases of motor weakness caused by air bubbles after caudal epidural injection are rare. A 44-year-old female patient received a caudal epidural injection after an air-acceptance test. Four hours later, she complained of motor weakness in the right lower extremity and numbness of the S1 dermatome. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no anomalies other than an air bubble measuring 13 mm in length and 0.337 ml in volume positioned near the right S1 root. Her symptoms completely regressed within 48 hours.

Anatomical Profile and Morphometric Evaluation of Human Sacral Hiatus in North Indians

Successful caudal epidural block (CEB) for various gynaecological and orthopaedic procedures requires an elaborate knowledge of anatomical profile of sacral hiatus. Varied morphology of sacral hiatus is likely to influence the success rate of CEB. Scanty literature is available on the morphometry of sacral hiatus in North Indian subjects. Therefore, sacral hiatus of 60 North Indian human sacra were evaluated using Vernier calipers. Sexing of the sacra was done by calculating the sacral index. Following parameters of sacral hiatus were observed and recorded: a) Shape, b) Level of apex, c) Maximum distance between the sacral cornua, d) Length of the sacral hiatus i.e. from its apex to midpoint of its base, e) Antero-Posterior diameter at the apex of sacral hiatus. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS software (version 18). Various shapes of sacral hiatus were observed. It was irregularly shaped in both the sexes though inverted U shaped sacral hiatus was also seen frequently in females. In males, the apex of sacral hiatus was commonly seen at the level of spinous process of 3rd sacral vertebra in males and below the level of spinous process of 4th sacral vertebra in females. The mean distance between the sacral cornua was 1.1cm : 1.2cm in males and females, respectively. Mean length of the sacral hiatus was 2cm in both sexes. Antero-posterior depth at the apex the sacral hiatus was 6mm in both the genders. The dimensions of sacral hiatus obtained in this study were inconsistent with earlier studies. Knowledge of these dimensions may help the clinicians in precisely locating sacral hiatus for successful CEB in North Indians.