Postoperative Pain Management: Efficacy of Caudal Tramadol in Pediatric Lower Abdominal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Study

Background: Oneof the methods of pain control after pediatric surgical procedures is regional techniques, including caudal block, despite their limitations. Objectives: In this study, the pain score and complications of caudal tramadol were evaluated in pediatrics following lower abdominal surgery. Methods: In this study, 46 children aged 3 to 10 years were allocated into two equal groups (R and TR) for performing caudal analgesia after lower abdominal surgery. The injectate contained 0.2% ropivacaine 1 mL/kg in the R group (control group) and tramadol (2 mg/kg) and ropivacaine in the TR group. The pain score, duration of pain relief, amount of paracetamol consumption, hemodynamic alterations, and possible complications at specific times (1, 2, and 6 hours) were evaluated in both groups. Results: No considerable difference was observed in the pain score between the groups in the first and second hours (P 0.05). However, in the sixth hour, the TR group had a significantly lower pain score than the R group (P 0.05). Compared to the R group, the TR group had a longer period of analgesia and lower consumption of analgesic drugs (P 0.05). Heart rate and blood pressure differences were not significant between the two groups (P 0.05). Similarly, the duration of operation and recovery time were not remarkably different between the two groups (P 0.05). Complications had no apparent differences between these two groups, as well (P 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, the addition of tramadol to caudal ropivacaine in pediatric lower abdominal surgery promoted pain relief without complications.