Effectiveness of Caudal Epidural Block using Bupivacaine with tramadol for Pediatric Lower Extremity Orthopaedic Surgery.

Background & Aim: Caudal block has been commonly used by the anaesthesiologists in pediatric surgery to relieve postoperative pain. This study compared the use of bupivacaine alone with bupivacaine plus tramadol for a single shot caudal block to find out whether tramadol can be an effective adjuvant to bupivacaine for providing better postoperative analgesia in children undergoing lower extremity surgery. Material and methods: A total of 60 children undergoing lower extremity surgery were randomly allocated into two groups; 30 children in group BT were treated with bupivacainewith tramadol, and 30 patients in Group B were treated with bupivacaine only. Caudal epidural block was performed immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Study outcomes were monitored in terms of duration of analgesia and total rescue analgesia (paracetamol) required in 1st 24 hrs. Results: Mean duration of analgesia was significantly high in group BT compared to group B and total rescue analgesia required was more in group B compared to group BT which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Tramadol when administered caudally with bupivacaine provided prolonged analgesia without any side effects in children undergoing lower extremity surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]