The Efficacy of Caudal Anesthesia in Pediatric Surgery

Abstract

Background: Despite a long history of safety, spinal anesthesia (SA) is still seldom used outside of specialist pediatric institutions and is sometimes debated as a primary anesthetic approach for children. To lessen the risk of postoperative apnea, it is often used on previously preterm newborns who have not yet reached viability (60 weeks post- conception) (GA). There is, however, a wealth of evidence indicating its safety and effectiveness for appropriate operations in adolescents. Objective: The primary purpose of this investigation is to assess the efficacy of Caudal anesthesia pediatric surgery. Method: Tertiary care hospital was the setting for this prospective investigation. 200 children, ages 4 to 10, were included in the research because they were all given different types of anesthesia for infraumbilical or lower extremities surgery during the study's 1-year time frame. The research participants had a thorough preoperative assessment. During the study 50 patients of each were given different anesthesia including Endotracheal intubation, LMA, Caudal block and local anesthesia. Results: Majority was belonged to 4-6 years age group, 70% and 60% were male. Plus, majority of the patients were undergone circumcision, 35% and Herniorrhaphy, 28%. Followed by 20% undergone appendectomy and 5% undergone hypospadias repair. Besides, anesthesia induction and recovery on the operating room table, was lowest in the local anesthesia group (P = 0.015), whereas the results were comparable in the other groups. However, patients with caudal and local anesthesia spent significantly less time in the postoperative recovery unit (P < 0.001). In fact, patients who got Caudal block had less complication where only 1% had Convulsions, Bloody puncture and vomiting. Conclusion: Caudal anesthesia as a sole method for pediatric subumbilical surgery is a relatively safe method. Patients having operation under caudal anesthesia have faster discharge times from postoperative recovery units, compared with general anesthesia. This probably reduces recovery unit expenditures.