title: Changes of dorsalis pedis artery flow pattern after caudal block in children: observational study using a duplex sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the changes of the flow velocity, the volume flow, and the diameter of dorsalis pedis artery using a duplex ultrasonography after caudal block with sevoflurane anesthesia in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To know the acute change in peripheral arterial flow patterns of sympathetically blocked lower limbs in anesthetized children.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Caudal analgesia in combination with general anesthesia may affect the circulatory hemodynamics due to sympatholytic vasodilating effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  After approval by the Ethics Committee, we evaluated the changes of peripheral hemodynamics using a duplex ultrasonography before and after a caudal block in sevoflurane-anesthetized children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A caudal block using 0.15% ropivacaine 1.5 ml·kg(-1) significantly altered the arterial flow patterns; increased peak velocity (24%) and volume flow (76%), and the diameter of the dorsalis pedis artery (20%) in children. However, blood pressures and heart rates were not affected significantly by caudal block.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duplex sonographic measurements indicate that a caudal block changes the flow patterns of the dorsalis pedis artery significantly in the anesthetized children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Seohui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hae K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kil
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000379:methods*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D000077212:Ropivacaine