Introduction: Pain is an unpleasant subjective sensation which can only be experienced though not fully expressed especially in children.The regional anaesthetic techniques significantly decrease post operative pain and systemic analgesic requirements. Caudal route was chosen for this study as it is one of the simplest and
safest techniques in paediatric anaesthesia with a high success rate. Aim: Aim of the study is to compare between 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.2% ropivacaine in caudal block in paediatric age group (0 to 8 years) in unilateral groin surgeries.

Materials and Methods: It is a randomized controlled study comparing bupivacaine and ropivacaine in caudal epidural analgesia for lower abdominal and genital surgeries. Patients were allocated by random number table in two groups of 30 patients each to receive 0.25% Bupivacaine ( Group B) 1ml/kg or 0.2% Ropivacaine (Group R) 1ml/kg for caudal block.

Results: No significant differences were observed among haemodynamic parameters throughout intraoperative period. Mean pain scores were more in Bupivacaine group however the difference was not statistically significant. Motor power was low in both the groups in first hr postoperatively and significantly low in Bupivacaine group in second hour, low but comparable in 3rd hr i.e. Ropivacaine group attained full motor power by 3rd hr and Bupivacaine group by 4th hr. Mean duration of sensory block in Ropivacaine group was 86.6 ± 10.2 min and in Bupivacaine group was 90.96 ± 7.29 min-not statistically significant. Mean duration of analgesia in Ropivacaine group was 5.38 ± 0.71 hrs and Bupivacaine group was 5.01 ± 0.8 hrs –not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Local anaesthetic Ropivacaine may prove to be a better alternative to Bupivacaine via caudal epidural route in Paediatric patients in urogenital surgeries.