Title:
The Association of Clonidine with Bupivacaine in Caudal Analgesia for Children

Authors:
Ojiakor S C, Edomnwonyi N P, Umeh B U O, Nigeria

Abstract:

Caudal epidural block is increasingly used in children to provide analgesia. However, the short duration of analgesia with local anaesthetic necessitated the addition of adjuncts like clonidine which actually prolonged the duration of analgesia but may be associated with significant sedation, hypotension and respiratory depression. In this study, we investigated the safety of 1.5µg/kg clonidine added to bupivacaine in caudal blockade in children.
Fifty two children, ASA I or II, aged between 2- 6 years undergoing unilateral herniotomy were randomly allocated into two groups to receive 0.75mls/kg of 0.25% plain bupivacaine with either saline or 1.5µg/kg clonidine as a single shot caudal blockade. Incidences of sedation using University of Michigan Sedation scale, hypotension, respiratory depression and delay in return of motor function was assessed. We observed that there was no statistical or clinical difference in the incidence of sedation between the groups. Haemodynamic changes were similar in both groups and there was no delay in return of motor functions.
This study concluded that 1.5µg/kg of clonidine added to bupivacaine for caudal analgesia did not increase the incidence of adverse effects.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2021.5220