Introduction: The efficacy of dexamethasone in prolonging the effect of local anesthetic has not been extensively studied when compared to other adjuvants. So, in our study we evaluated the analgesic efficacy of caudally administered dexamethasone along with dilute concentration of local anesthetics in children undergoing infra umbilical surgeries.

Methodology: 60 children between the age group 1–5 years of ASA-PS I and II posted for elective infraumbilical surgeries were randomly grouped into two equal groups using shuffled sealed opaque envelope technique. Pre anesthetic evaluation was done and informed consent was obtained from the parents after explaining about the procedure and the drugs being used.The two groups were Group R (control group) and Group D (study group). Group R received 1 ml/kg of 0.15% ropivacaine with normal saline (1ml) and Group D received 1 ml/kg of 0.15% ropivacaine with dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg in saline to make a total volume 1ml in the caudal epidural space.

Results: No significant variation was noticed in either of the groups with respect to heart rate. The p values at all the various time intervals was >0.05.

Conclusion: There is no difference which is statistically significant between the diastolic blood pressures of the two groups.