Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Pediatric surgical procedures require a thoughtful multi modal approach of anaesthesia for perioperative pain management that maximizes both patient comfort and safety. Regional anesthesia (RA) can provide increased anatomic coverage over a longer duration by applying anesthetic medication directly around a targeted peripheral nerve. The primary objective was to assess the effect of regional anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia in pediatric surgery. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 146 cases of caudal blocks and 10 cases of spinal blocks performed in children ranging in age from newborns to 12 years. The study evaluated various anesthesia techniques, including caudal block (CB) alone, CB combined with general anesthesia (GA), GA followed by CB, GA with spinal block and spinal block as a standalone method. Out of the total cases, 142 caudal blocks and 9 spinal blocks were deemed clinically successful. However, in 4 instances, the duration of the caudal block was inadequate, necessitating the use of general anesthesia (GA). Caudal block failure was reported in 11 cases, representing 7.05% of the total. Among the 142 caudal block patients, 26 underwent surgery under GA, with caudal block provided as an adjunct for postoperative pain relief. Caudal anesthesia is recognized as a cost‐effective, straightforward and efficient approach that serves both as an independent anesthetic technique and as an adjunct for postoperative pain management. The authors advocate for its broader application across various clinical scenarios involving infra umbilical surgeries in pediatric patients.
How to cite this article:
Kshitiz Ranka, Praveen Jhanwar and Ruturajsinh Jadeja. Regional Versus General Anesthesia in Pediatric Surgery Patients: A Clinical Perspective.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2025.1.69.72
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2025.1.69.72