Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy of Caudal Dexamethasone with Intravenous Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Caudal Block in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Urogenital Surgeries.

CONTEXT

Caudal block is one of the most common regional anesthetic techniques employed in pediatric urogenital surgeries. Adjuvants play an important role to improve postoperative analgesia.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of dexamethasone when given systemically as against caudally as an adjuvant to caudal block.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In this randomized controlled study, sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I and II patients aged 3-6 years were randomly allocated into two groups of thirty each. Group D received caudal block with local anesthetic solution and 0.1 mg/kg injection dexamethasone. Group I received a caudal block with local anesthetic solution. They received intravenous injection dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg after the block. Both the groups were compared for the duration of postoperative analgesia and analgesic requirement.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Statistical analysis was done with unpaired -test and Chi-square test as was appropriate.

RESULTS

Group D showed a significant prolongation of postoperative analgesia (626.33 ± 59.39 min) as compared to Group I (194.67 ± 27.76 min). Similarly, requirement of analgesic was reduced on 1 postoperative day in group receiving caudal dexamethasone.

CONCLUSIONS

Dexamethasone significantly prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia of a caudal block when given caudally than when given intravenously.