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document
Ropivacaine-clonidine combination for caudal blockade in children . BACKGROUND Adding clonidine to weak ropivacaine solutions ( < 0.2 % ) could potentially enhance analgesia as well as further reduce the risk for unwanted motor blockade . The aim of the present study was to compare the postoperative pain-relieving quality of a ropivacaine 0.1 % -clonidine mixture to that of plain ropivacaine 0.2 % following caudal administration in children . METHODS In a prospective , observer-blinded fashion , 40 ASA 1 paediatric patients undergoing subumbilical surgery were randomly allocated to receive a caudal injection of either plain ropivacaine 0.2 % ( 1 ml/kg ) ( R0.2 ) or a mixture of ropivacaine 0.1 % with clonidine 2 microg/kg ( 1 ml/kg ) ( R0.1C ) . Objective pain scale score and need for supplemental analgesia were used to evaluate analgesia during the first 24 h postoperatively . Residual postoperative sedation was also assessed . RESULTS A significantly higher number of patients in the R0.1C group ( 18/20 ) could be managed without supplemental analgesia during the first 24 h postoperatively compared to the R0.2 group ( 11/20 ) ( P=0.034 ) . Both the degree and the duration of postoperative sedation was similar in both groups . No signs of postoperative motor blockade were observed . CONCLUSIONS The combination of clonidine ( 2 microg/kg ) and ropivacaine 0.1 % is associated with an improved quality of postoperative analgesia compared to plain 0.2 % ropivacaine . The improved analgesic quality of the clonidine-ropivacaine mixture is achieved without causing any significant degree of postoperative sedation .
3326
Intervention_Pharmacological
Ropivacaine-clonidine combination
3327
Intervention_Pharmacological
clonidine
3328
Intervention_Pharmacological
weak ropivacaine solutions
3329
Intervention_Pharmacological
ropivacaine 0.1 % -clonidine mixture
3330
Intervention_Pharmacological
plain ropivacaine
3331
Intervention_Pharmacological
plain ropivacaine 0.2 % ( 1 ml/kg )
3332
Intervention_Pharmacological
ropivacaine 0.1 %
3333
Intervention_Pharmacological
clonidine 2 microg/kg ( 1 ml/kg )
3334
Intervention_Other
Objective pain scale score
3335
Intervention_Pharmacological
clonidine ( 2 microg/kg ) and ropivacaine 0.1 %
3336
Intervention_Pharmacological
plain 0.2 % ropivacaine
3337
Outcome_Other
enhance analgesia
3338
Outcome_Physical
reduce the risk for unwanted motor blockade .
3339
Outcome_Pain
pain-relieving quality
3340
Outcome_Pain
Objective pain scale score and need for supplemental analgesia
3341
Outcome_Physical
Residual postoperative sedation
3342
Outcome_Physical
supplemental analgesia
3343
Outcome_Physical
degree and the duration of postoperative sedation
3344
Outcome_Physical
postoperative motor blockade
3345
Outcome_Other
improved quality of postoperative analgesia
3346
Outcome_Other
improved analgesic quality
3347
Participant_Condition
caudal blockade
3348
Participant_Age
children
3349
Participant_Sample-size
40
3350
Participant_Age
paediatric patients
3351
Participant_Condition
subumbilical surgery