Administering caudal anesthesia at completion of clubfoot surgery does not affect postoperative use of narcotics.
In the pediatric population, control of postoperative pain is a challenging and important issue. We conducted this retrospective study to determine whether single-dose caudal anesthesia administered after club-foot surgery helps to decrease postoperative use of narcotics. Fifty-one patients given an injection of caudal anesthesia (bupivacaine) at completion of clubfoot surgery were compared with 41 patients who did not receive a caudal block. Postoperative pain control was assessed by recording how much narcotic was used by each patient during time in the recovery room and during the first 8 hours after surgery. Results show that a single dose of caudal anesthesia administered at completion of clubfoot surgery is not associated with a statistically significant change in use of narcotics during either postoperative period.
Black
Molly D
MD
University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kansas, USA.
Olney
Brad
B
Vitztum
Coley
C
Hassanein
Khatab
K
D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003025:Clubfoot / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D009294:Narcotics; D009020:Morphine; D002045:Bupivacaine