Comparison of efficacy and duration of caudal analgesia produced by bupivacaine alone and in combination with adrenaline and ketamine in children

The study was conducted on 60 ASA 1 children undergoing lower abdominal and genitourinary surgery. They were divided into 3 groups of 20 each. Group I children received caudal block with Bupivacaine 0.25% 1ml kg-1, Group II patients received Bupivacaine 0.25% 1ml kg-1 body weight with Adrenaline 1: 2,00,000 and Group III received Bupivacaine 0.25%, 1ml kg -1 body weight with Ketamine 0.5mgkg-1. Post operatively patients were assessed for time to spontaneous eye opening, spontaneous leg movement, time to first micturition, pain score, first localization of pain & SpO2 recording was done during the first 4hrs of post operative period. Our observations suggest that single shot Caudal analgesia is a very effective method of post operative analgesia. It effectively alleviates postoperative pain and reduces the requirement of systemic analgesics during the postoperative period. The quality & duration of analgesia is not significantly prolonged by addition of Adrenaline or Ketamine.