BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of caudal block anesthesia with hydromorphone-ropivacaine compared to ropivacaine alone on postoperative immune function and pain management in children undergoing hypospadias surgery.

METHODS

A total of 100 pediatric patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the Hydromorphone-Ropivacaine (HR) group and the Ropivacaine (R) group for caudal block anesthesia, with 50 patients in each group. The R group received 0.25% ropivacaine at a dose of 1 ml/kg, while the HR group received 0.25% ropivacaine (1 ml/kg) combined with hydromorphone (10 µg/kg). The maximum dose for both groups was capped at 30 ml (1 ml/kg). Anesthesia induction included intravenous administration of pentobarbital (0.01 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg), followed by sevoflurane inhalation. All patients underwent ultrasound-guided caudal block anesthesia administered by the same anesthetist. Primary outcomes included the distribution of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD8 + ratios) measured at five time points: pre-anesthesia (T0), end of surgery (T1), 24 h postoperatively (T2), 48 h postoperatively (T3), and 72 h postoperatively (T4). Secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores assessed using the Modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (M-CHEOPS) at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h postoperatively, sedation levels evaluated using the Ramsay sedation scale at the same time points, and the incidence of postoperative adverse events.

RESULTS

The HR group exhibited significant reductions in CD3, CD4, and CD4/CD8 ratios at T1, T2, and T3 compared to baseline (T0) (p < 0.001). At all postoperative time points (T1, T2, T3, T4), the HR group demonstrated significantly higher levels of CD3, CD4, and CD4/CD8 ratios compared to the R group (p < 0.001). By T4 (72 h postoperatively), immune markers in the HR group had largely normalized to baseline levels, whereas those in the R group remained significantly lower (p < 0.001). Postoperative pain, assessed using the Modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (M-CHEOPS), was significantly lower in the HR group at 6, 12, and 18 h postoperatively compared to the R group (p < 0.001). The HR group also exhibited a longer duration of analgesia and required fewer doses of rescue analgesia within the first 24 h postoperatively (p = 0.046). Sedation levels, evaluated using the Ramsay sedation scale, showed significant differences between the groups at 1 h (p = 0.0087) and 6 h (p < 0.0001) postoperatively, with higher sedation scores observed in the HR group. There were no significant differences in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, or oxygen saturation between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of postoperative adverse reactions (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Caudal block anesthesia with hydromorphone-ropivacaine offers enhanced postoperative pain relief and a lesser impact on immune function compared to ropivacaine alone in children undergoing hypospadias surgery. Further studies are warranted to explore the long-term effects on immune function.