Postoperative analgesia in children when using clonidine or fentanyl with ropivacaine given caudally

Add dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine for transversus abdominis plane block in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair: Could it make a difference? A randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Transversus abdominis plane block is becoming more common as part of multimodal analgesia for post-abdominal operation pain relief. This study compared the analgesic effects of adding dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine (transversus abdominis plane) block in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery to adding fentanyl.

METHODS

Overall, 90 elderly patients with a simple inguinal hernia repair were randomly assigned to one of three groups. After spinal anaesthesia, an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block was performed. Transversus abdominis plane block was accomplished with 0.25% levobupivacaine + 0.9% normal saline in Group L (n = 30) (20mL). Transversus abdominis plane block was accomplished with 0.25% levobupivacaine + 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine in Group D (n = 30) (20mL). Transversus abdominis plane block was obtained with 0.25% levobupivacaine + 1 µg/kg fentanyl in Group F (n = 30) (20mL). The primary outcome was the first analgesic request, and the secondary outcomes were the visual analog scale, postoperative analgesic requirements, sedation, hemodynamic stability, and related complications 24 hours postoperatively. 1gm paracetamol intravenously was provided as rescue analgesia.

RESULTS

The time to first analgesic request in the dexmedetomidine group was substantially more prolonged than in the fentanyl and control groups (516.5±27.8, 451.2±11.1, and 403.9±10.5min, respectively; p < 0.05). Postoperative analgesic requirements were significantly decreased in dexmedetomidine 1(1-2) than control 2(1-3) and fentanyl 1.5(1-2) respectively (P<0.01). VAS was significantly lower in Group D and Group F than in Group L postoperatively. No significant difference in side effects was noted between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The transversus abdominis plane block is the best multimodal analgesia choice for inguinal hernia repair in older patients. Combining dexmedetomidine with levobupivacaine in the transversus abdominis plane block can improve the quality of postoperative analgesia while avoiding significant side effects.

Enhancing Caudal Analgesia in Pediatrics: A Comparison of Ropivacaine With and Without Clonidine for Infra-Umbilical Surgeries

Introduction Regional anesthesia, particularly caudal blocks, is increasingly used in pediatric surgeries for effective post-operative pain management. However, the duration of analgesia with agents such as ropivacaine alone can be limited. This study investigates the effects of adding clonidine to ropivacaine in caudal blocks for pediatric patients undergoing infra-umbilical surgeries, with the purpose of enhancing the duration and quality of analgesia. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind study including 50 children aged one to eight years, divided equally into two groups: group R received 0.2% ropivacaine and group RC received 0.2% ropivacaine with 2 mcg/kg clonidine. Intraoperative and post-operative monitoring included heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory parameters. Analgesia duration, sedation scores, and the need for rescue analgesia were assessed. Results Group RC exhibited significantly longer analgesia duration (18.4 ± 2.31 hours) compared to group R (10.56 ± 2.27 hours, P < 0.0001). Fewer patients in group RC required a second dose of rescue analgesia (4% vs. 32%, P = 0.023), with no significant differences in sedation scores or adverse effects between the groups. Conclusion Adding clonidine to ropivacaine in caudal blocks significantly prolongs analgesia and reduces the need for additional post-operative pain management in pediatric surgeries without increasing the risk of side effects. This study supports the use of clonidine as an effective adjuvant in pediatric pain management.

Novel drug treatments for pain in advanced cancer and serious illness: a focus on neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Drugs that are commercially available but have novel mechanisms of action should be explored as analgesics. This review will discuss haloperidol, miragabalin, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), and clonidine as adjuvant analgesics or analgesics. Haloperidol is a sigma-1 receptor antagonist. Under stress and neuropathic injury, sigma-1 receptors act as a chaperone protein, which downmodulates opioid receptor activities and opens several ion channels. Clinically, there is only low-grade evidence that haloperidol improves pain when combined with morphine, methadone, or tramadol in patients who have cancer, pain from fibrosis, radiation necrosis, or neuropathic pain. Miragabalin is a gabapentinoid approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain in Japan since 2019. In randomized trials, patients with diabetic neuropathy have responded to miragabalin. Its long binding half-life on the calcium channel subunit may provide an advantage over other gabapentinoids. PEA belongs to a group of endogenous bioactive lipids called ALIAmides (autocoid local injury antagonist amides), which have a sense role in modulating numerous biological processes in particular non-neuronal neuroinflammatory responses to neuropathic injury and systemic inflammation. Multiple randomized trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated PEA's effectiveness in reducing pain severity arising from diverse pain phenotypes. Clonidine is an alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist and an imidazoline2 receptor agonist, which is U.S. Federal Drug Administration approved for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, Tourette's syndrome, adjunctive therapy for cancer-related pain, and hypertension. Clonidine activation at alpha2 adrenoceptors causes downstream activation of inhibitory G-proteins (Gi/Go), which inhibits cyclic Adenosine monophosphate (AMP) production and hyperpolarizes neuron membranes, thus reducing allodynia. Intravenous clonidine has been used in terminally ill patients with poorly controlled symptoms, in particular pain and agitation.

Study of caudal ropivacaine with or without dexmedetomidine for postoperative analgesia in paediatric genitourinary infraumbilical surgery: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Various studies have described the use of Dexmedetomidine with local anaesthetic drugs in caudal blocks for the management of postoperative pain in children. This study was designed to determine the analgesic effect of caudal Dexmedetomidine with Ropivacaine in paediatric genitourinary infraumbilical surgeries. Postoperative analgesic effects of caudal Ropivacaine with or without Dexmedetomidine in paediatric genitourinary infraumbilical were evaluated. This study was a prospective, interventional, comparative study conducted after ethical approval from the institute. Informed expressed consent was taken from each patient's guardians. The sample size was calculated to be 31 in each group. The two groups were randomly assigned and the intervention involved caudal epidural injection with either Ropivacaine combined with Dexmedetomidine or Ropivacaine with Normal Saline. Children receiving Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine had a significantly prolonged duration of analgesia compared to those receiving Ropivacaine alone (840.35 ± 149.97 vs. 412.90 ± 93.46 min, P < 0.001). Postoperative rFLACC scores were consistently lower in the Dexmedetomidine group, indicating better pain control (P < 0.05 at 6, 12, and 24 h). Total analgesic consumption was lower in the Dexmedetomidine group (500.67 ± 212.92 vs. 741.75 ± 268.06 mg, P < 0.01). No significant differences in adverse effects were observed between the groups. The addition of Dexmedetomidine to Ropivacaine in caudal epidural significantly prolongs analgesia, improves pain control, and reduces analgesic consumption in paediatric genitourinary infraumbilical surgeries.

Comparison of adjuvant pharmaceuticals for caudal block in pediatric lower abdominal and urological surgeries: A network meta-analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Caudal block helps relieve pain after sub-umbilical surgery in pediatric patients; however, the duration for which it exerts its analgesic effect is limited. The addition of certain adjuvant agents to local anesthetics (LAs) that are used to administer caudal block can prolong postoperative analgesia. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficiencies and side effects of caudal adjuvants in the settings of pediatric lower abdominal and urological surgeries.

DESIGN

A network meta-analysis (NMA).

PATIENTS

One hundred and twelve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 6800 pediatric patients were included in the final analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Different adjuvant agents, namely clonidine, dexamethasone, dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, ketamine, magnesium, midazolam, morphine, neostigmine, and tramadol.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was the duration of analgesia. The secondary outcomes included the requirement for additional analgesia, analgesic consumption, and postoperative complications. The effects and rankings were evaluated using NMA and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve scores, respectively.

RESULTS

Neostigmine, dexmedetomidine, and dexamethasone were found to be the three most effective adjuvants that prolong the duration of analgesia for caudal block, and these adjuvants extended this duration by 8.9 h (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1-10.7), 7.3 h (95% CI, 6.0-8.6), and 5.9 h (95% CI, 4.0-7.7), respectively. Caudal neostigmine was associated with an increase in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, whereas dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone showed no postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

This NMA provided evidence and suggested that dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone may be the most beneficial adjuvant pharmaceutics adding to LAs for caudal block in children. However, given the off-label status of caudal dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone, further high-quality RCTs are still warranted, especially to determine whether delayed neurological complications will occur.

Clonidine as an Additive to Local Anesthetics in Caudal Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Pediatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Clonidine is an anesthetic with favorable efficacy and safety profiles for caudal epidural block, but comparisons with other adjuvants need to be confirmed in pediatric patients. Aim: To investigate the effects of clonidine as an adjuvant in caudal epidural block to improve the intraoperative and postoperative analgesia in pediatric surgery. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for available papers published up to February 2021. The outcomes were pain score, duration of analgesia, complications, and number of analgesic requirements. The meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models. Results: Fifteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. There were no differences between clonidine and the control drug regarding the duration of analgesia (SMD = -0.71, 95%CI: -1.64, 0.23; I ² = 95.5%, P_{heterogeneity} < 0.001), pain score (SMD = 0.35, 95%CI: -0.28, 0.98; I ² = 80.8%, P_{heterogeneity} < 0.001), and requirement for additional analgesia (OR = 8.77, 95%CI: 0.70, 110.58, I ² = 81.9%, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.004), but using clonidine resulted in fewer complications than the control drugs (OR = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.54, I ² = 21.8%, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.217). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were robust. A publication bias was observed. Conclusion: Clonidine has the same efficacy as the other adjuvants for caudal epidural block for pediatric surgery but fewer complications. These results support clonidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetic, but additional studies should be conducted.

A Prospective Double-Blind Comparative Clinical Study Between Caudal Levobupivacaine (0.125%) with Clonidine and Ropivacaine (0.125%) with Clonidine on Post-Operative Analgesia in Paediatric Patients Undergoing Infra-Umbilical Surgery

Introduction

Caudal epidural block is a reliable technique in paediatric patients but associated with various complications especially with higher concentration of drugs. We proposed a comparative study between levobupivacaine and ropivacaine at low concentration (0.125%) with clonidine at low dose (1 mcg/kg) taken as adjuvant. We aimed to see duration of post-operative analgesia, degree of motor blockade and other associated complications.

Materials and Methods

Eighty paediatric patients (1-6 years), American society of anaesthesiologists grade I and II, undergoing infra-umbilical surgery under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups of 40 each. Group A patients were given caudal levobupivacaine (0.125%) and Group B patients were given caudal ropivacaine (0.125%). Clonidine (1 mcg/kg) was taken as adjuvant in both the groups. Post-operative pain, sedation and motor blockade were assessed at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours and 24 hours using Observational Pain Scale, modified Bromage Scale and four-point sedation score, respectively. Any other complications were also noted.

Results

Motor blockade was not associated with any of the patients. Duration of post-operative sedation was similar in both the groups. Duration of post-operative analgesia was significantly higher in Group A (p < 0.0001). Adverse effects and complications were negligible in both the groups.

Conclusion

Both levobupivacaine and ropivacaine can be used safely at low concentration (0.125%) taking clonidine at low dose (1 mcg/kg) as adjuvant in paediatric caudal epidural block without significant motor blockade and other complications, duration of post-operative analgesia being significantly higher in the levobupivacaine group.

The Efficacy and Safety of Dexmedetomidine Combined with Bupivacaine on Caudal Epidural Block in Children: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the analgesics effect and safety of dexmedetomidine (DEX) combined with bupivacaine (BU) on caudal epidural block. MATERIAL AND METHODS Published studies were identified using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from inception until October 2017. Relative risk (RR), the standardized mean difference (SMD), and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the STATA 12.0. RESULTS Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected for this meta-analysis, involving a total of 691 patients. There was a longer duration of postoperative analgesia in children receiving DEX (SMD=3.19, 95% CI: 2.16-4.22, P<0.001). Furthermore, there was a lower number of patients requiring rescue analgesics in the (BU) + (DEX) group (6 hours: RR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.05-0.17, P<0.001; 12 hours: RR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.32-0.79, P=0.003; 24 hours: RR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.51-0.85, P=0.002). Finally, the occurrence of adverse events, between BU and DEX + BU group, was not statistically significant (RR=0.96, 95% CI: 0.58-1.58, P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS DEX seems to be a promising adjuvant to BU increase duration of caudal analgesia without an increase in side effects in children. However, the result may be influenced by clinical heterogeneity. More large-scale, multicenter, approaching, double-blinded RCTs are required to confirm our results.

Clonidine versus other adjuncts added to local anesthetics for pediatric neuraxial blocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Clonidine is a common adjunct to local anesthetics for pediatric neuraxial block; however, the pros and cons between clonidine and other adjuncts remain unclear. Thus, we performed this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy and adverse effects between clonidine and other adjuncts added to local anesthetics.

Materials and methods

The systematic search, data extraction, critical appraisal, and pooled analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Randomized controlled studies were searched in Cochrane (to present), Medline (1946 to present), Embase (1974 to present), and Biosis (1995 to present). Relative risks (RRs), standard mean difference (SMD), and associated CIs were calculated using RevMan statistical software to assess continuous and dichotomous data. Heterogeneity in studies was measured by forest plots and I² values. Subgroup analysis was performed for continuous and dichotomous variables, while meta-regression was applied for continuous data with high I² values.

Results

A total of 15 randomized controlled studies met the inclusion criteria. There was a longer duration of postoperative analgesia in the clonidine group than for other adjuncts (SMD=1.54, p=0.005, I²=96%). The number of patients requiring rescue analgesia was lower in the clonidine group without the addition of epinephrine (RR=0.55, p=0.0002, I²=0), while the RR for the comparison with epinephrine was significant (p=0.62, I²=95%). The duration of motor block was longer in the clonidine group (mean difference [MD]=1.06, p<0.00001, I²=0). The clonidine group also had a lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV; RR=0.49, p<0.00001, I²=0). Postoperative bradycardia, hypotension, and urinary retention were not significantly different between clonidine and other adjuncts (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Clonidine, compared with other adjuncts, added to local anesthetics for neuraxial block, provides a longer duration of postoperative analgesia with lower incidence of PONV. However, the duration of motor block may also be prolonged by clonidine.

A Comparative Study for the Analgesic Efficacy and Safety Profile of Fentanyl versus Clonidine as an Adjuvant to Epidural Ropivacaine 0.75% in Lower Abdominal Surgeries

CONTEXT

Different adjuvants are coadministered with local anesthetics to improve the speed of onset and duration of analgesia, and to reduce the dose, the selection of which is often left to the choice of an anesthesiologist.

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of fentanyl and clonidine as an adjuvant to epidural ropivacaine anesthesia.

SETTING AND DESIGN

With institutional ethical committee clearance, a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted at Vivekananda Polyclinic and Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two groups with thirty patients each were randomly allocated to receive 15-20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with 75 μg clonidine or 15-20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with 75 μg fentanyl, respectively. Block characteristics such as onset of analgesia, maximum level of sensory blockade, complete motor blockade, hemodynamic, time to two-segment regressions, time for rescue analgesia, time to complete motor recovery, and side effects were analyzed.

RESULTS

Results showed that the onset of blockade is faster when fentanyl is used as additives. Time for two-segment regression was earlier in fentanyl group but time for rescue analgesia was longer in clonidine group.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Two groups were compared by Student's t-test and Chi-square test; ANOVA and significance of mean difference bet were done by Newman-Keuls test.

CONCLUSION

Addition of clonidine to epidural ropivacaine provides superior analgesia than the addition of fentanyl to epidural ropivacaine without much difference in side effect profile.

Treatment of Postoperative Pain in Pediatric Operations: Comparing the Efficiency of Bupivacaine, Bupivacaine-Dexmedetomidine and Bupivacaine-Fentanyl for Caudal Block

BACKGROUND

Caudal analgesia is a common method for postoperative pain management in pediatric patients. Additive agents such as opioids and α₂ agonists have been used to enhance the analgesic effects of local anesthetics for caudal block.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare the additive effects of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl on bupivacaine-induced caudal analgesia in pediatric patients who had undergone elective inguinal hernia repair.

METHODS

This randomized, double-blind clinical trial included children aged 1 - 5 years who were divided into three groups: the bupivacaine group (Group B) received 0.25% bupivacaine (1 ml/kg), the bupivacaine-dexmedetomidine group (Group BD) received 0.25% bupivacaine (1 mL/kg) plus 2 µg/kg dexmedetomidine, and the bupivacaine-fentanyl group (Group BF) received 0.25% bupivacaine (1 mL/kg) plus 2 µg/kg fentanyl. The hemodynamic variables (heart rate, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and peripheral arterial oxygen saturation) were measured perioperatively. Pain, sedation and motor block scores and adverse events (nausea and vomiting, pruritis, hypotension, bradycardia, urinary retention and respiratory depression) were documented at 30 and 60 minutes, and the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th and 24th hours after the operation. The other recordings include the duration of surgery and analgesic requirement.

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients were analyzed. The lowest pain scores were found in the BD group at all time points (P < 0.001). The sedation scores were higher in the BD group than in the other two groups at all time points (P < 0.001). No motor block was observed after the operation. Only three patients required analgesic administration 2 to 6 hours after the operation in group B. No side effects were observed in any of the groups, and there was no significant difference in the duration of surgery among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that the analgesic and sedative effects were better when dexmedetomidine was added to bupivacaine than when fentanyl was added or bupivacaine alone was administered in the pediatric population studied here that underwent elective inguinal hernia repair.

Postoperative analgesia in children when using clonidine in addition to fentanyl with bupivacaine given caudally

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of clonidine in association with fentanyl as an additive to bupivacaine 0.25% given via single shot caudal epidural in pediatric patients for postoperative pain relief. In the present prospective randomized double blind study, 40 children of ASA-I-II aged 1-5 years scheduled for infraumblical surgical procedures were randomly allocated to two groups to receive either bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with fentanyl 1 μg/kg and clonidine 1μg/kg (group I) or bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with fentanyl 1 μg/kg (group II). Caudal block was performed after the induction of general anesthesia. Postoperatively patients were observed for analgesia, sedation, hemodynamic parameters, and side effects or complications. Both the groups were similar with respect to patient and various block characteristics. Heart rate and blood pressure were not different in 2 groups. Significantly prolonged duration of post-operative analgesia was observed in group I (P<0.05). Side effects such as respiratory depression, vomiting and bradycardia were similar in both groups. The adjunction of clonidine to fentanyl as additives to bupivacaine in single shot caudal epidural in children may provide better and longer analgesia after infraumblical surgical procedures.

Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in caudal analgesia in children

Context:

Postoperative pain management is becoming an integral part of anesthesia care. Various techniques of pediatric pain relief have been designed among which the most commonly practiced is caudal epidural block. Several adjuvants have been used to prolong the duration of caudal analgesia such as clonidine, neostigmine, ketamine, opioids, and ephedrine. We have designed the study using dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to assess analgesic efficacy, duration of postoperative analgesia, hemodynamic stability, postoperative sedation, and any adverse effects in children.

Aims:

The aim is to study the effects of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in caudal analgesia in pediatric patients posted for infraumbilical surgeries.

Settings and Design:

This is a randomized, double-blind study in which effect of dexmedetomidine is studied when added to bupivacaine in the caudal epidural block. The observations are made intraoperatively for hemodynamic stability and postoperatively for the duration of analgesia.

Subjects and Methods:

This study was conducted in 100 children of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, aged 2–10 years, undergoing elective infraumbilical surgeries. They were divided into two groups as follows: Group A: (0.25%) bupivacaine 1 ml/kg + normal saline (NS) 1 ml. Group B: (0.25%) bupivacaine 1 ml/kg + 1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine in 1 ml NS. As this study was double-blind, patients were randomly assigned to receive either (bupivacaine + saline) or (bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine) in each group. The patients were observed for hemodynamic stability, respiratory depression, and postoperative pain using face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) pain scale for 24 h postoperatively.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Unpaired Student's t-test.

Results:

The mean duration of effective analgesia in Group A patients was 4.33 ± 0.98 h versus 9.88 ± 0.90 h in Group B patients. Likewise, the difference in mean FLACC score of both the groups was also statistically significant, 7.21 ± 0.76 and 6.49 ± 1.72 in Group A and Group B, respectively.

Conclusion:

Dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to Bupivacaine increases duration of caudal analgesia and improves hemodynamic stability without an increase in adverse effects in children undergoing infraumbilical surgeries.

Comparison of caudal tramadol versus caudal fentanyl with bupivacaine for prolongation of postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients

Background and Aims:

Caudal block is a common technique for pediatric analgesia for infraumblical surgeries. Because of the short duration of analgesia with bupivacaine alone various additive have been used to prolong the action of bupivacaine. The present study was aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of tramadol or fentanyl added to bupivacaine for infraumblical surgeries in pediatric patients.

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled trial. After written informed consent from parents, 100 patients belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status I-II, in the age group of 1-12 years, of either sex undergoing infraumblical surgery under general anesthesia were divided into two groups. Group BT received 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine with tramadol 2 mg/kg in normal saline and Group BF received 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine with fentanyl 2 μg/kg in normal saline with maximum volume of 12 ml in both groups. All patients were assessed intraoperatively for hemodynamic changes, the requirement of sevoflurane concentration, as well as postoperatively for pain by using FLACC (F = Face, L = Leg, A = Activity, C = Cry, C = Consolability), pain score and for sedation by using four point sedation score.

Results:

The mean duration of analgesia was 10–18 h in Group BT while in Group BF it was 7-11 h. The postoperatively period up to 1½ h, Group BF had higher sedation score up to two as compared to that below one on Group BT.

Conclusion:

Caudal tramadol significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia as compared to caudal fentanyl without any side effects.

Comparison of lumbar epidural bupivacaine with fentanyl or clonidine for postoperative analgesia in children with cerebral palsy after single-event multilevel surgery

AIM

To compare diazepam use, muscle spasm, analgesia, and side effects when clonidine or fentanyl are added to epidural bupivacaine in children with cerebral palsy after multilevel orthopaedic surgery.

METHOD

Fifty children were prospectively randomized to receive clonidine (n=24, mean age 10y 10mo [SD 2y 11mo]) or fentanyl (n=26, mean age 10y 11mo [SD 2y 10mo]).

RESULTS

There was no difference in primary outcome measures: median diazepam use (fentanyl 0, interquartile range [IQR] 0-0; clonidine 0, IQR 0-0; p=0.46), any muscle spasm (no muscle spasms in: fentanyl, 36%; clonidine, 62%; p=0.11), painful muscle spasm (fentanyl 40%; clonidine 25%; p=0.46), or pain score ≥6 (none: fentanyl 44%; clonidine 42%; p=0.29). There were differences in secondary outcome measures: no vomiting (clonidine 63%; fentanyl 20%); vomiting occurred more frequently with fentanyl (32% vomited more than three times; clonidine none; p=0.001). Fentanyl resulted in more oxygen desaturation (at least two episodes: fentanyl 20%; clonidine 0; p<0.001). Clonidine resulted in lower mean (SD) area under the curve for systolic blood pressure (fentanyl 106.5 [11.0]; clonidine 95.7mmHg [7.9]) and heart rate (fentanyl 104.9 beats per minute [13.6]; clonidine 85.3 [11.5]; p<0.001).

INTERPRETATION

Clonidine and fentanyl provide adequate analgesia with low rates of muscle spasm, resulting in low diazepam use. The choice of epidural additive should be based upon the most tolerable side-effect profile.

Optimum Concentration of Caudal Ropivacaine & Clonidine - A Satisfactory Analgesic Solution for Paediatric Infraumbilical Surgery Pain

INTRODUCTION

Ropivacaine is amide local anaesthetic pure S(-)enantiomer of bupivacaine. Its duration of analgesia is similar to that of Bupivacaine (in equivalent doses) but the motor block is slower in onset, less intense, shorter in duration for a given level of sensory block with lesser cardiac side effects but addition of an adjuvant like clonidine which is an imidazoline derivative has been studied for its sedative, anxiolytic and analgesic properties.

AIM

This study was aimed to show the optimum concentrations of Ropivacaine and Clonidine to maximize analgesia without side effects by evaluating its safety and efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty children aged 2-10 years of ASA grade 1, scheduled to undergo infraumbilical surgeries were randomly allocated to Group A & Group B of 30 each. Group A received 0.2% Ropivacaine with normal saline and Group B received 0.2% Ropivacaine and preservative free Clonidine 1μg/kg, the total volume of solution being 1ml/kg haemodynamic changes were monitored intraoperatively and haemodynamic parameters along with motor blockade, pain score and sedation score were assessed postoperatively.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Done with unpaired student t and Mann-Whitney test.

RESULTS

The groups were comparable regarding demographic characterstics. The mean duration of analgesia was prolonged in group B (12+2.22 hours) than in group A (6.53+1.16 hours) with p-value <0.001 leading to less rescue analgesia in former group. None of the children in the groups had a pain score of ≥ 4 at the end of 2 hours. A 6.6% and 60% of group A children had score of ≥ 4 at the end of 4(th) & 6(th) hour respectively. None in Group B had a score of ≥ 4. At the end of 8(th) hour, only 6.6% of the children in Group B had a pain score of ≥ 4 whereas it was 33.33% in Group A which is statistically significant. No bradycardia or hypotension and no significant sedation.

CONCLUSION

Combination of Ropivacaine and Clonidine in the concentration used (0.2% ropivacaine and 1μg/kg of clonidine) can be optimal for postoperative analgesia in paediatric population.

A comparative study of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl as adjuvants to levobupivacaine for caudal analgesia in children undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery

Background:

Levobupivacaine is an effective local anesthetic agent with less systemic toxicity than racemic bupivacaine, but it has short postoperative analgesic duration. Dexmedetomidine and fentanyl are promising adjuncts to provide excellent and prolonged postoperative caudal analgesia. This study compared the effects of caudal levobupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine and levobupivacaine plus fentanyl for postoperative analgesia and sedation in children undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery.

Patients and Methods:

Ninety children, whose age ranged from 1 to 7 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II, undergoing orthopedic lower limb surgery under general anesthesia received caudal block for postoperative analgesia. The children were randomly allocated into three groups: Group L (control) received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% diluted in saline; Group LD received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% with dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg; and Group LF received 0.75 ml/kg levobupivacaine 0.25% with fentanyl 1 μg/kg. Following the administration of the drugs; hemodynamic variables, the total anesthesia time, sedation score, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability score, duration of analgesia, and side effects were recorded.

Results:

Demographically, all the groups were comparable, both the baseline and the intraoperative hemodynamic profile were similar in all groups. The mean duration of analgesia and the mean sedation score in the Group LD were significantly greater as compared to both the other groups.

Conclusion:

Dexmedetomidine may be a better additive to levobupivacaine than fentanyl for caudal postoperative analgesia, arousable sedation with comparable hemodynamic and side effect profile in children.

Caudal-epidural bupivacaine versus ropivacaine with fentanyl for paediatric postoperative analgesia

Background and Aims:

Caudal-epidural, the most commonly used regional analgesia technique, is virtually free of measurable hemodynamic effects, thus adding a new dimension to the evolving necessity of pediatric postoperative pain management. Though, bupivacaine is the most commonly used drug for this purpose, ropivacaine has emerged as a safer alternative, with the addition of opioids, like fentanyl, increasing the effective duration of analgesia. With this overview, our present study was designed to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of bupivacaine-fentanyl and ropivacaine-fentanyl combinations by caudal-epidural technique in pediatric infraumbilical surgeries.

Materials and Methods:

Totally, 60 pediatric patients, of either sex, aged between 2 and 8 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, undergoing elective infraumbilical surgeries were assigned into two groups, Group BF receiving bupivacaine 0.25%, 0.7 ml/kg and Group RF receiving ropivacaine 0.25%, 0.7 ml/kg with fentanyl 1 μg/kg added to each group. Assessment of pain was done using “Hannallah pain scale.” Consumption of the total amount of rescue analgesic and time to requirement of the first dose, as also duration of motor blockade were noted. Perioperative hemodynamics and any adverse effects were monitored at regular intervals.

Results:

The RF Group experienced significantly longer duration of effective postoperative analgesia, with significantly shorter duration of motor blockade and lesser total analgesic requirement in comparison to the BF Group. Hemodynamically, patients in both the groups, were equally stable.

Conclusion:

Ropivacaine, with an equipotent analgesic efficacy and a lesser duration of motor block, can be used as an alternative to bupivacaine for pediatric postoperative pain care through the caudal route.

Magnesium as an adjuvant for caudal analgesia in children

BACKGROUND

There is a need for an adjuvant agent of caudal block that prolongs its duration and improves the analgesic efficacy to fasten functional recovery. Magnesium is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist that functions as an analgesic. This study was aimed to evaluate whether magnesium as an adjuvant for caudal block in children can improve postoperative analgesia and functional recovery.

METHODS

Eighty children, 2-6 years of age, undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy, were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study. For caudal block, Group R received ropivacaine 1.5 mg·ml(-1), 1 ml·kg(-1) and Group RM received the same dose of ropivacaine mixed with 50 mg of magnesium. The Parents' Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM) score, analgesic consumption, functional recovery, and adverse effects were evaluated at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, as well as daily thereafter until the child showed full functional recovery.

RESULTS

The PPPM score after hospital discharge was significantly lower for Group RM than for Group R at all times (P < 0.05). Children in Group RM required less fentanyl for rescue analgesia in the recovery area (16.2% vs 39.5%, P = 0.034) and less oral analgesics after discharge (20.5% vs 52.6%, P = 0.007). The time to return of normal functional activity was shorter in Group RM (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse effects did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

As an adjuvant for caudal analgesia, 50 mg magnesium provided superior quality of analgesia and faster return of normal functional activity than local anesthetic alone in children.

Caudal blockade for children undergoing infra-abdominal surgery

The assessment and management of pain in children can be complicated by their inability to communicate effectively; therefore, it is important that every attempt be made to circumvent the undertreatment of pain. Caudal blockade is associated with excellent pain relief and minimal side effects, and it is an established technique used in conjunction with general anesthesia for children undergoing infra-abdominal surgery. Available local anesthetic agents have a relatively short analgesic duration period, so anesthesia professionals often combine their use with adjuvant medications (eg, epinephrine, clonidine, fentanyl, morphine, preservative-free ketamine, neostigmine). Additional consideration should be given to intraoperative care, postoperative observation (eg, measuring sedation, motor blockade, postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain), and discharge instructions for the patient's caregiver.

Opioid use and the risk of respiratory depression and death in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients may be at an increased risk of adverse effects from various medications. Recently, there have been a number of serious adverse events, including several pediatric patients experiencing severe respiratory depression and death as a result of the use of codeine for pain control following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the safety of opioid agonists in pediatric patients undergoing operative procedures or have experienced trauma and to evaluate the risk of respiratory depression and death among this population.

METHODS

PubMed and Medline were searched to identify randomized controlled studies from 1994 to 2012 addressing postsurgery/trauma opioid use in pediatric patients. Relative risks and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using data available in clinical trials.

RESULTS

A total of 16 clinical trials were evaluated for this review. Randomized controlled trials included studies comparing opioids versus non-opioids for a variety of painful conditions. The relative risk of respiratory depression associated with opioid use in 1 trial was 1.63 (95% CI: 0.64-6.13). The remaining 15 trials reviewed described no significant difference in respiratory depression or adverse effects associated with treatment. No deaths were attributed to opioid use in any of these studies.

CONCLUSION

Opioid-associated respiratory depression was very rare and no deaths were reported in the reviewed studies. These findings under the well-defined conditions of controlled studies may not be the best means of determining overall opioid-associated side effects in pediatric patients.