A Comparative Study of Ropivacaine with and without Fentanyl for Caudal Anesthesia in Pediatric Patients

One of the most prevalent regional methods in paediatric anaesthesia is the caudal epidural block. It is a safe, simple procedure that has proven to be quite beneficial in children following infra-umbilical surgery. Ropivacaine causes differential neuraxial blockade, which is associated with less motor block and lower cardiovascular damage. To extend the duration of action of local anaesthetics, several adjuvants are administered. Our goal was to see how fentanyl affected the duration of postoperative analgesia when used in conjunction with ropivacaine in a paediatric population of children aged 3 to 8 years following infraumbilical operations.

On 100 paediatric patients receiving elective infraumbilical operations, a prospective, comparative, and randomised investigation was done. Patients were randomised into two 50-person groups at random. Caudal anaesthesia was administered once the airway was secured. 0.2 percent ropivacaine 0.5ml/kg was given to Group R, while 0.2 percent ropivacaine 0.5ml/kg with fentanyl 0.5mcg/kg was given to Group RF. Face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability pain rating scales were used to measure postoperative pain for 24 hours. The length of the motor blockage and any negative effects were recorded. Hemodynamics, post-operative analgesia duration, and the number of rescue analgesics required were all recorded and statistically evaluated.

The mean duration of analgesia in ropivacaine group was 440.60±101.29 minutes (7.25hrs) and in ropivacaine fentanyl group was 891±312.84 (14.76hrs). Statistically, the difference was highly significant.

In children having infraumbilical surgery, using fentanyl as an adjuvant to ropivacaine for caudal block enhanced analgesic effectiveness and extended post-operative analgesia.