Ultrasound Assessment of Penile Blood Flow Following Caudal Block in Children; A Pilot Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo characterize penile arterial and venous blood flow in association with caudal block. MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in children undergoing primary circumcision at Texas Children's Hospital between September 10, 2020 and November 23, 2021. The penile artery and venous flow velocity were assessed using Doppler ultrasound pre and post caudal block under state-state anesthetic depth. ResultsTen healthy patients were included in the study with a mean age and weight of 1.3 years and 10.7 kg, respectively. There was no significant difference in mean penile arterial blood flow velocity 0.18 m/s, (95% confidence interval: –1.55 to 1.92; P = .81) or mean dorsal penile vein flow velocity 0.11 m/s (95% confidence interval: –1.12 to 1.33; P = .84) prior to and following caudal block in our pediatric cohort. there was no correlation in the direction of change between the arterial flow and venous flow from before and after caudal block (R2 = 0.03). ConclusionWe did not identify an association between penile arterial or venous blood flow and performance of a caudal block in children undergoing circumcision.