Evaluation of caudal anesthesia performed in conscious infants for lower abdominal surgeries

Objectives: To assess the tolerance and efficiency ofcaudal anesthesia in infants undergoing lower abdominal surgery.Methods: Thirty-five infants aged 2-13 weeks with amedian gestational age of 35 weeks, were given single dose caudal epidural anesthesia (with bupivacaine) without sedation. This group of babies was treated at the Tabriz Children General Hospital between December 2006 and March 2007. We evaluated patients analgesia (Beclerepain scale), blood pressure, heart rate changes, and apnea during the 24-hour postoperative period. Each patient was self-compared by Run test.Results: Three patients had pain requiring induction of general anesthesia. Out of 35 cases, 23 patients hadnon-significant changes in heart rate, 20 patients hadnon-significant changes in systolic blood pressure, and 17patients had non-significant changes in diastolic blood pressure. None of the patients experienced apnea. Four patients required postoperative analgesic support for2 hours, 2 patients for 3.5 hours, and 9 patients for 4hours.Conclusion: The present study shows that single dose caudal block can be used successfully in conscious babiesfor minor lower abdominal surgery, and may also facilitate postoperative pain management.