Caudal anesthesia in pediatric surgical practice.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Surgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Caudal anesthesia is a common technique for pediatric surgical procedures.
• Evaluating the safety and efficacy of caudal anesthesia with adjuncts is crucial for optimizing pediatric surgical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of caudal anesthesia with or without ketamine and diazepam induction in pediatric patients undergoing various surgical procedures.
• To compare the benefits of caudal anesthesia with general anesthesia for parents.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 100 pediatric patients undergoing anorectal, urogenital, groin, or foot & leg surgery.
• Administration of caudal anesthesia with or without ketamine and diazepam induction, alongside gas inhalation.
• Recording of anesthesia timing, analgesia administration, and evaluation of per-operative and postoperative pain management.

Main Results:

• Caudal anesthesia with or without ketamine and diazepam induction was safely administered to 100 pediatric patients.
• The technique proved effective for a range of surgical procedures, including anorectal, urogenital, and groin surgeries.
• Both per-operative and postoperative analgesia were successfully managed.

Conclusions:

• Caudal anesthesia, with or without ketamine and diazepam, is a safe and cost-effective anesthetic method for pediatric surgery.
• This technique can be safely incorporated into protocols for both institutional and private pediatric surgical practices.
• The study highlights the benefits of caudal anesthesia, which were explained to parents, suggesting its broad applicability.