ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF CAUDAL DEXAMETHASONE COMBINED WITH ROPIVACAINE IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING HERNIOTOMY

Sridharan Srinivasan; Kumar G kandasamy

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2017

ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF CAUDAL DEXAMETHASONE COMBINED WITH ROPIVACAINE IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING HERNIOTOMY

Sridharan Srinivasan, Kumar G Kandasamy

Abstract :

Background.

Epidural administration of dexamethasone might reduce postoperative pain in adults. We evaluated whether a caudal block of 0.1 mg kg^{– 1} dexamethasone combined with ropivacaine improves analgesic efficacy in children undergoing day–case Herniotomy.

Methods.

This randomized, double–blind study included 60 children aged 6 months to 6 yr who underwent day–case, unilateral Herniotomy. Patients received either 1.5 ml /kg of 0.15% ropivacaine (Group R) or 1.5 ml /kg of 0.15% ropivacaine in which dexamethasone of 0.1 mg /kg was mixed (Group RD) for caudal analgesia. Postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesic consumption, and side–effects were evaluated 48 h after operation.

Results.

Postoperative pain scores at 6 and 24 h post–surgery were significantly lower in Group RD than in Group R. Furthermore, the number of subjects who remained pain free up to 48 h after operation was significantly greater in Group RD [14 of 28 (50%)] than in Group R [3 of 28 (10.71%); P,0.001]. The number of subjects who received oral analgesic was significantly lower in Group RD [8 of 28 (28.57%)] than in Group R [15 of 28 (53.57%); P¼0.027]. Time to first oral analgesic administration after surgery was also significantly longer in Group RD than in Group R (P¼0.014). Adverse events after surgery including vomiting, fever, wound infection, and wound dehiscence were comparable between the two groups.