South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
-
Two hundred and eleven children aged 1-5 years were studied after undergoing herniorrhaphy or orchiopexy. In 111 cases a caudal block was used for postoperative analgesia. This was administered immediately after induction of anaesthesia, using bupivacaine 0.25% plain (0.7 ml/kg lean body mass), and was successful in 100 patients. ⋯ The other 100 children acted as controls. Behaviour patterns were more restful in the caudal block group on awakening and less opiate was required during the first 5 postoperative hours. No complications resulted.