Comparison of analgesic efficacy of caudal dexmedetomidine versus caudal tramadol with bupivacaine 0.25% in pediatric infra-umbilical surgeries
Authors: Kapadia Rupal , Kapdi Manisha , Prajapati Ajay 
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Postoperative analgesia is very important parameter for overall management of pediatric patients. Aims: To compare the analgesic efficacy of caudal dexmedetomidine versus caudal tramadol with bupivacaine 0.25 % in paediatric Infra-umbilical surgeries. Objectives: To study hemodynamic changes. The duration of post-operative analgesia and to compare motor block and post-operative sedation in both groups, as well as the side effects associated with analgesia in both the groups. Methods: The study was carried out in 60 patients of either sex belonging to ASA Grade-I/II between age group of 1 to 8 years undergoing infra umbilical surgeries. After taking written informed consent from all the patient's care taker, pre-anaesthetic evaluation was carried out and procedure was explained to patient's care taker. Patients were randomly devided into 2 groups. Group BT: Patient received 1 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine with tram-adol 1 mg/kg. Group BD: Patient received 1 ml/kg 0.25% bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg. Our method of anaesthesia was G. A. with caudal block. Postoperative analgesia was assessed by FLACC score for 24 hours and If FLACC ≥ 4, Paracetamol suppository (15 mg/kg) was given as rescue analgesia. Post-operative sedation was assessed by Ramsay sedation score up to 6 hr postoperatively. Postoperatively, all the patients were monitored for any complications like Nausea, Vomiting, Shivering, Bradaycardia, Hy-potension and Respiratory depression. Results: Patients were comparable in both the groups regarding age, weight, sex distribution (P > 0.05). Mean duration of surgery in group BT was 55.3 ± 9.6 mins, in group BD was 56.7 ±12.8 mins. There was no statistically significant difference in the duration of surgery between the two groups on intergroup comparison (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in mean heart rate, mean arterial pressure and mean oxygen saturation between the groups on intergroup comparison intraoperatively and postoperatively (p > 0.05). Ramsay Sedation score was 2.0 ± 0.4 at 1 hr posto-operatively in Group BT patients. So, after 1 hr of surgery, patients of BT group remained anxious, restless and agitated. While in group BD, Sedation score was 2.0 ± 0.3 at 6 hr postoperatively. Thus all patients remained cooperative , oriented and tranquil up to 6 hr post-operatively. Group BD had significant sedation compared to Group BT for 6 hrs postoperatively (p < 0.05). We observed significant difference between the groups in terms of FLACC score. Group BT patients achieved statistically significantly higher FLACC score compared with Group BD.(P < 0.05). The mean duration of analgesia was 6.9 ± 1.2 hr in Group BT, 13.2 ± 2.8 hr in Group RD (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant prolongation in the duration of analgesia in Group BD (p < 0.05). In present study, incidence of nausea and vomiting occurred in 5 (16.7%) of patients in Group BT and 3 (6.7%) in Group BD. None of the patients had Shivering, Brady-cardia, Hypotension, Respiratory depression, Neurological sequale in both the groups.