Publication:

A comparative study to compare the efficacy of hyperbaric bupivacaine alone and hyperbaric bupivacaine with clonidine in caudal block in paediatric lower abdominal surgeries

Background The aim was to compare the efficacy of addition of clonidine to hyperbaric bupivacaine and to compare it with plain hyperbaric bupivacaine for caudal analgesia in children aged 3 months to 3 years in term of analgesic duration, hemodynamic change and degree of sedation.

Methods Sixty ASA I and II children undergoing lower abdominal surgeries were divided into two groups of 30 each, plain hyperbaric bupivacaine group (Group B) and hyperbaric bupivacaine with clonidine group (Group C). Group B received only bupivacaine and Group C received bupivacaine with clonidine in caudal block.

Results Hemodynamic and demographic profiles were comparable between both the groups. Addition of clonidine significantly prolonged duration of caudal analgesia and significantly reduce the FLACC scores in group C as compared to group B. Mean sedation score immediately after postoperative period was higher in group C but after 4 hours of awakening, there was gradual fall in mean sedation score in both groups.

Conclusions Addition of clonidine to bupivacaine in caudal analgesia significantly increases the duration of post-operative analgesia.