title: Efficacy and Safety of Clonidine as an Adjuvant to Bupivacaine for Caudal Analgesia in Paediatric Infra-Umbilical Surgeries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caudal analgesia, has gained popularity in paediatric intraoperative and postoperative pain management, more so with the use of adjuvants to prolong its duration, each of them having various results. Clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic agonist is being used for its analgesic effects in various doses with 0.25% Bupivacaine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to compare the analgesic efficacy, haemodynamic safety and side effects of 1 μg/kg Clonidine added to 1 ml/kg of 0.125% Bupivacaine solution for caudal analgesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study was carried out in 60 children of ASA Physical Status I, aged 1-10 years, scheduled for infraumbilical operations in a tertiary care centre. They were randomly assigned for caudal analgesia, to either group B: 1ml/kg of 0.125% Bupivacaine solution or group BC: 1ml/kg of 0.125% Bupivacaine and preservative free Clonidine 1μ/kg. All were premedicated with midazolam 0.75 mg/kg orally 30 minutes prior to induction of anaesthesia. Heart rate (HR), Mean Arterial blood Pressure (MAP) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored. General anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone (1.25%) 5mg/kg and inhalation of oxygen, nitrous oxide and sevoflurane. Postoperative pain, sedation and motor block was assessed by the various scores and patients were monitored for adverse effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of postoperative analgesia was 3 times longer in group BC. Group B received significantly more doses of rescue analgesic than group BC (p-value of 0.004). There was no significant bradycardia, hypotension, sedation or urinary retention in either of the groups. There was no residual motor blockade at 6 hours. Incidence of vomiting was similar in both the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caudal Clonidine in the dose of 1 μg/kg in children is a satisfactory and efficacious adjuvant to caudal Bupivacaine for producing prolonged postoperative analgesia with minimum side effects.
authors: Ex Senior Resident, Department of Anaesthesiology, Goa Medical College , Bambolim, Goa, India .
authors: Samita
authors: S
authors: Priolkar
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Goa Medical College , Bambolim, Goa, India .
authors: Shirley Ann
authors: SA
authors: D'Souza
keywords: Caudal additive; Paediatric regional anaesthesia; Postoperative analgesia