THE SAFETY OF EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA FOR LOWER ABDOMINL AND LOWER LIMB SURGERY IN PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Early ambulation and discharge as well as a reduction in the requirement for both narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics have been linked to regional analgesia. It produces profound analgesia with little change in physiology. The psychological conditions during this pain-free phase are excellent for the healing child and family. Additionally, since most blocks have a fairly predictable duration of action, it is possible to carefully time the administration of a second analgesic medication to take effect when the block wears off. When general anesthesia is technically challenging or linked to a higher risk of morbidity and death, regional anesthesia can be helpful.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was carried out in the department of Anaesthesialogy & Critical Care on thirty paediatric patients admitted in surgical and orthopaedic units of this hospital, after getting the permission from the Institutional Ethics Committee.

RESULTS: Mean Weight in group A was 8.75 Kg with range of approximately 6 to 11 Kg and in group B the mean weight was 23.01 Kg with the range of approximately 16 to 30 Kg. The mean dose of injection lidocaine with adrenaline on the basis of weight, was 7.8±0.72mg/Kg in group A and 9.0 ± 0.73 mg/kg in group B. The mean volume of local anaesthetic solution came out to be 7.15±1.98 ml for group A and for group B it was 13.99±4.87 ml.

CONCLUSION:Following the procedure, the patient wakes up pain-free, the child is much easier to handle, and the attendants' worry decreases significantly as the patient lies comfortably following the procedure. Using an epidural block can help prevent many of the negative consequences of general anaesthesia when it is the only anesthetic approach employed.

KEYWORDS: Analgesic, Paediatric, Post-operative and Epidural Analgesia