A Comparison of the Effects of Caudal Anesthesia with Constant Dosage of Levobupivacaine in Different Volumes and Concentrations in Children

Objective: The effects of two different volumes and concentrations of a fixed dose of levobupivacaine on quality and postoperative analgesia of caudal block in children were compared. Material and Methods: Levobupivacaine at a dose of 2 mg/ kg was given in a 1 mL/kg (n=20) volume or 0.5 mL/kg (n=20) volume to forty children aged 3-8 yr undergoing urogenital surgery for caudal blockage. Intraoperative hemodynamic responses requiring an increase in inspired sevoflurane concentration, and duration of postoperative analgesia were the primary outcome measures. Results: There were no patients in any group who required an increase in inspired sevoflurane concentration to block the hemodynamic response during the operation. Duration of analgesia was significantly longer in Group H than in Group L (825 }103 min vs. 587 }98 min respectively, p=0.029). No signs of motor block were observed after the first postoperative hour in any of the patients. Conclusion: Caudal block with a high volume/low concentration of levobupivacaine provides longer duration of postoperative analgesia compared to low volume/high concentration of levobupivacaine in children.