Comparative Study of Spinal Anaesthesia Versus Caudal Anaesthesia in Lower Paediatric Age Group Patients Undergoing Elective Infraumbilical Surgery

Introduction: Regional anaesthesia in children was first studied by August Bier in 1899 Intraoperative blockade of the neuraxis, whether by the spinal or epidural route provides excellent analgesia with minimal physiologic alteration.This study was done with the primary aim to compare spinal anaesthesia with caudal anaesthesia in lower paediatric age group patients undergoing elective infraumbilical surgery for duration of analgesia and hemodynamic stability.We also compared the characteristics of sensory and motor block.Material and methods: In this study 100 patients who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were chosen and the procedure was explained to the patients attendant.After obtaining written and informed consent, patients were randomized into two equal groups of 50 each.Group S was given spinal anaesthesia-hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg was injected.Group C was given caudal block-0.5% plain bupivacaine 2mg/kg plus normal saline.Postoperatively patients were observed for analgesia, sedation, hemodynamic and complications if any.Result: The sensory level achieved in all cases of group S was T10 while in group C it was in 93%.Mean onset time, duration and regression of sensory block as well as for motor block was higher in caudal group than spinal group.The time required for first supplement was delayed in caudal group.Cries scale was not the limiting factor in both the groups.Conclusion: In short surgeries requiring immediate relaxation spinal anaesthesia is preferable while in surgeries with moderately prolonged duration caudal is preferable.