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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijaa.2349.8471.5818.15

Abstract

Caudal epidural is the most common regional anaesthetic technique being performed in paediatric day care procedures. Several adjuvants have been tried to prolong the duration of caudal analgesia and to increase the efficacy of analgesia. Among them Clonidine is the popular adjuvant in current paediatric practice.In this study 100 children in the age group of 1 to 10 years were selected and divided in to two groups (Group A and Group B) of 50 children each. Group A children received Bupivacaine 1 ml/kg and 1mcg/kg of Clonidine, Group B children received Bupivacaine alone at 1ml/kg in the caudal epidural route. Heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure during intraoperative and postoperative period have been monitored. Post operative sedation was assessed by simple sedation score and the duration of analgesia by the need for first analgesic requirement. The duration of analgesia is significantly prolonged in Group A and no significant changes in the haemodynamic parameters also. So addition of 1 mcg/kg of Clonidine to Bupivacaine in the caudal route significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia without causing any major haemodynamic and respiratory effects.
 

Keywords : Bupivacaine; Caudal; Clonidine; Paediatric.

Corresponding Author : M.R. Karthikeyan, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Madras Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600008, India.