Journal of pediatric surgery
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Review Meta Analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of caudal blockade versus alternative analgesic strategies for pediatric inguinal hernia repair.
The optimal analgesic strategy for pediatric inguinal hernia repair (IHR) remains undefined. We evaluated the available evidence comparing caudal blockade to alternative analgesic strategies in achieving post-operative analgesia. ⋯ There is no demonstrable difference in post-operative pain scores or rescue analgesia when comparing caudal blockade with alternative pain management strategies after pediatric IHR. This equipoise suggests that caudal blockade may be obviated for lower risk and less time-consuming maneuvers in patients barring supplementary indications for pain control.