Analgesia following inguinal herniotomy or orchidopexy in children: a comparison of caudal and regional blockade.

The effectiveness of postoperative analgesia was compared in 44 children undergoing inguinal surgery, 19 of whom received caudal analgesia (1 ml 0.2% bupivacaine/kg) and 25 ilioinguinal block (0.25 ml 0.5% bupivacaine/kg). The requirement for supplementary analgesia (intramuscular morphine) was less in the caudal group, although this did not reach statistical significance in the number studied. Ilioinguinal and caudal blockade both provide useful postoperative analgesia for children following ilioinguinal surgery.