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Caudal epidural block in children and infants: retrospective analysis of 2088 cases

Serbülent Gökhan Beyaz1, Orhan Tokgöz, Adnan Tüfek

  • 1Sakarya University Medical School, Anesthesiology, Sakarya, Turkey. sgbeyaz@gmail.com

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|September 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Caudal epidural blocks are a safe and effective anesthesia method for pediatric day-case surgeries. This study found no permanent complications in 2088 cases, supporting their use by anesthetists.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Regional Anesthesia

Background:

  • Caudal block via the epidural space is a common regional anesthesia technique in pediatrics.
  • Large-scale studies on pediatric caudal blocks are limited.
  • This study aimed to evaluate complications and side effects of anesthetic agents used in pediatric caudal blocks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the safety and efficacy of caudal epidural blocks in pediatric patients undergoing subumbilical day-case surgeries.
  • To identify and evaluate complications and side effects associated with local anesthetics and adjuvant drugs used in pediatric caudal blocks.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, descriptive study analyzing 2088 pediatric cases from December 2007 to October 2009.
  • Data collected from screened medical records of 4815 patients.
  • Focus on local anesthetics (levobupivacaine, bupivacaine), adjuvant drugs (morphine, fentanyl, adrenaline), and general anesthesia agents (propofol, sevoflurane).

Main Results:

  • Levobupivacaine was the preferred local anesthetic (79.9%).
  • No permanent complications were observed following caudal blocks.
  • The ProSeal laryngeal mask (PLMA) was used for airway control in 48.2% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Caudal epidural blocks are a safe and effective anesthesia method for pediatric subumbilical day-case surgeries.
  • The procedure is well-tolerated by pediatric patients when administered by experienced anesthetists.
  • The study supports the continued use of caudal blocks in pediatric anesthesia practice.
Abstract

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