A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CAUDAL BUTORPHANOL AND FENTANYL FOR ALLEVIATING POST-OPERATIVE PAIN IN INFRAUMBILICAL PROCEDURES IN CHILDREN BELOW 3 YEARS OF AGE

Abstract

Objective: Caudal block is a common regional anesthetic technique used in children. However, it is limited by relatively shorter duration of analgesia. The objective of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of caudal blockade using butorphanol (1) and fentanyl in children below 3 years, undergoing infraumbilical surgeries.Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Without premedication, patients were induced with thiopentone, relaxed with atracurium for facilitation of LMA insertion, and maintained on O2, N2O, and halothane. Caudal block was then performed using an aseptic technique. One group received caudal butorphanol (25 μg/kg) with 0.25% bupivacaine (0.1 ml/kg) and the other received fentanyl (1 μg/kg). Incision was allowed after 15 min of block. After the completion of surgery, LMA was removed and patients were shifted to the PACU. Non-invasive blood pressure and heart rate were recorded; pain was assessed using modified objective pain score (MOPS) (2) at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h, postoperatively. Oral paracetamol was given at a score >4.Results: The mean duration of analgesia in Group F was 12.47 (standard deviation [SD] 8.216) and 19.67 (SD 7.009) in Group B (p: 0.001, HS). Mean MOPS was 4.6 in the fentanyl group as compared to 2.6 in the butorphanol group at the end of 24 h (p=0.001, HS). Thus, butorphanol provided longer duration of analgesia compared to fentanyl.Conclusion: Caudal additives are safe in children and butorphanol provides significantly longer duration of analgesia as compared to fentanyl, thus avoiding caudal catheterization and intravenous analgesics.