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Caudal bupivacaine supplemented with morphine or clonidine, or supplemented with morphine plus clonidine in children undergoing infra-umbilical urological and genital procedures: a prospective, randomized and double-blind study

Journal of Anesthesia volume 26, pages 213–218 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate postoperative analgesia of morphine, or clonidine, or morphine plus clonidine, added to caudal bupivacaine in children undergoing infra-umbilical urological and genital procedures.

Methods

Eighty patients aged 1–10 years were prospectively enrolled. After the induction of general anesthesia, the patients were randomized to four caudal anesthesia groups: Group B (1.0 mL/kg of bupivacaine 0.166% with epinephrine 1:600,000); Group BM (1.0 mL/kg of bupivacaine 0.166% with epinephrine 1:600,000 plus morphine 20 μg/kg); Group BC (bupivacaine 0.166% with epinephrine 1:600,000 plus clonidine 1.0 μg/kg), and Group BMC (bupivacaine 0.166% with epinephrine 1:600,000 plus morphine 20 μg/kg and clonidine 1.0 μg/kg). Duration of surgery, emergence time, postoperative pain score measured by the face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) scale, postoperative analgesia time, and overall use of rescue analgesics were recorded.

Results

The FLACC pain score (6, 12, and 24 h after the surgery) and the number of patients requiring analgesics during the first 24 h of the postoperative period were higher in Groups B and BC than in Groups BM and BMC (p < 0.05). The incidence of pruritus and urinary retention was comparable between the groups (p > 0.05). However, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) was higher in Groups BM (35%) and BMC (25%) than in Groups B (5%) and BC (5%) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

To conclude, we showed that 20 μg/kg of morphine added to caudal bupivacaine 0.166% plus epinephrine 1:600,000 decreased the use of analgesics in the postoperative period, although it was associated with an increased incidence of PONV. However, the addition of clonidine (1.0 μg/kg) to caudal bupivacaine provided no additional clinical benefit over bupivacaine alone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Magda L. Fernandes, Kleber C. C. Pires & Moacir A. Tibúrcio

  2. Department of Surgery, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Renato S. Gomez

  3. Departamento de Cirurgia, Faculdade de Medicina, Avenida Alfredo Balena, 190, Sala 203 Bairro Santa Efigênia, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-100, Brazil

    Renato S. Gomez

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  1. Magda L. Fernandes
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  2. Kleber C. C. Pires
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  3. Moacir A. Tibúrcio
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  4. Renato S. Gomez
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Correspondence to Renato S. Gomez.

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Fernandes, M.L., Pires, K.C.C., Tibúrcio, M.A. et al. Caudal bupivacaine supplemented with morphine or clonidine, or supplemented with morphine plus clonidine in children undergoing infra-umbilical urological and genital procedures: a prospective, randomized and double-blind study. J Anesth 26, 213–218 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1297-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1297-y

Keywords

  • Caudal anesthesia
  • Children
  • Clonidine
  • Morphine