Comparison of the efficacy of tramadol and Dexmedetomidine with newer local anaesthetic drug ropivacaine through caudal epidural route

Abstract

Background: Caudal analgesia is a form of caudal epidural block commonly used technique for surgical anaesthesia in children and chronic pain management in adults. It is performed by inserting a needle through the sacral hiatus to gain entrance into the sacral epidural space. Materials & Methods: The present article involves postoperative caudal analgesia study in 80 ASA I-II paediatric patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries by comparing two drugs, tramadol & dexmeditomidine with ropivacaine in paediatric patients. Here the 80 patients were divided in two groups (group T: Tramadol, group D: Dexmedetomidine). Quality of pain relief and sedation was assessed by FLACC score and Modified Ramsay Sedation score respectively for both the groups. Results: Addition of Dexmedetomidine with Ropivacaine leads to increased duration of analgesia when compared to Tramadol for paediatric infraumbilical surgeries & reduces the postoperative analgesic requirements in 1st24 hrs. with, initial better quality of sleep.