Caudal epidural blockades for chronic pain in the lower back in working age

Introduction. Chronic back pain syndrome, which significantly restricts a person’s daily activity, can cause the formation of depressive states and is a significantly more difficult task for treatment compared to acute pain.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of caudal epidural catheterization (CEC) and local therapy with anesthetics and glucocorticoids for chronic nonspecific discogenic and chronic radicular low back pain (LBP) in young and middle-aged patients.Materials and methods. 42 patients aged from 29 to 59 years, who in the neurosurgical department of the Vologda City Hospital No. 1 in 2017–2019 underwent an operation to install a caudal epidural catheter and prolonged injection therapy of local anesthetics and glucocorticosteroids for chronic nonspecific discogenic and chronic radicular LBP.Results. There were no purulent-septic complications, hematomas of the spinal canal. In the group of patients with radicular syndrome the average values of LBP according to VAS were as follows: before CEC – 78.5 mm; 5 days after CEC – 24.1 mm; 6 months after CEC – 19.6 mm; after 12 months – 17.9 mm. In the group of patients with nonspecific discogenic LBP the average pain estimates for VAS were as follows: before CEC – 78.1 mm; 5 days after CEC – 21.7 mm; 6 months after CEC – 20.9 mm; after 12 months – 23.4 mm.Сonclusion. Our experience indicates a high long-term efficacy and safety of treatment with caudal epidural catheterization and local prolonged therapy with anesthetics and glucocorticoids for chronic radicular and chronic nonspecific discogenic pain in the lower back in young and middle-aged patients selected on the basis of a special system of criteria.

Comparative Randomised Study between Bupivacaine with Clonidine and Ropivacaine with Clonidine Used Caudally for Postopertaive Analgesia in Paediatric Hypospadias Surgery

Background: This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the caudal epidural clonidine when mixed with ropivacaine and bupivacaine in prolonging postoperative analgesia in children of Indian genotype undergoing hypospadias surgery, as well as compare the intraoperative haemodynamics using caudal bupivacaine with clonidine vs ropivacaine with clonidine. The study was also aimed at studying the side effects and the duration of post-operative pain relief of bupivacaine with clonidine v/s ropivacaine with clonidine. Methods: This is a prospective randomised comparative study that was carried out in the Department of Anaesthesiology, KEM Hospital, Pune, over 12 months (from October 2016 to September 2017), among 56 children having an ASA Grade of II, aged between 1 to 8 years admitted for hypospadias surgery. The data gathered was cleaned using Microsoft Excel, before statistical analysis was done. Results: It was observed that caudal epidural analgesic duration was more in the bupivacaine clonidine group than in the ropivacaine clonidine group. The sedation score was higher at the second hour in the bupivacaine clonidine group. The HR and mean arterial pressure values were found to be notably higher in the ropivacaine clonidine group than those in the bupivacaine clonidine group. Intraoperatively and postoperatively, there was a decrease in pulse rate and MAP but at no time did the value reach the criteria for intervention. Other side effects like postoperative vomiting, nausea, motor blockade, respiratory distress not observed in any group. Conclusion: Bupivacaine 0.25 % 0.5 ml per kg with clonidine 1 microgram / kg via caudal route increased the duration of postoperative analgesia with no adverse effects as compared to ropivacaine 0.25 % with clonidine 1 microgram/ kg. Hence clonidine is more efficient in increasing postoperative analgesia when added with Bupivacaine as compared to ropivacaine in Indian genotype in hypospadias surgery.

Resultados del bloqueo epidural caudal en pacientes laboralmente activos con dolor lumbar

Introducción: El dolor lumbar es una de las entidades categorizadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como enfermedades prioritarias y una de las principales causas de ausentismo laboral. El bloqueo caudal epidural es una técnica anestésica utilizada para tratar el dolor lumbar de diversos orígenes. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo en pacientes sometidos a bloqueo caudal guiado por radioscopia, entre el 1 de enero de 2017 y el 31 de enero de 2019. Se excluyó a los pacientes con bloqueo caudal previo, con antecedente de cirugía de columna lumbar y a quienes abandonaron el seguimiento. Se registraron variables relacionadas con el paciente y los resultados del procedimiento (dolor según la escala analógica visual, intervención quirúrgica posterior, actividad laboral posterior y licencia médica solicitada). Resultados: Se incluyó a 38 pacientes (media de la edad 43 años [rango 27-62]). La mediana de dolor a los tres meses fue de 3,5 (rango 2-6), con una diferencia de 4,5 (RIC de -2,7 a -7) respecto del puntaje basal. Estas diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas (p<0,001). El 55,3% retornó al trabajo al primer mes, y el 52,4% de ellos (n = 11) solo requirió una semana de licencia. Conclusiones: Los valores del dolor a corto plazo luego del procedimiento se modificaron de forma estadísticamente significativa respecto de los valores basales. El promedio de reinserción laboral al mes fue del 55,3% (n = 21) y el 76,2% de ellos (n = 16) lo hizo a las dos semanas.

Comparative Evaluation of Clonidine as an Adjunct to Ropivacaine for Caudal Block Anaesthesia in Children Undergoing Sub-Umbilical Surgeries

BACKGROUND Studies suggest that clonidine can improve the duration of analgesia, quality of pain control when used with ropivacaine for caudal blocks in children. This study was designed to understand the effects of caudally administered ropivacaine 0.25 % (1ml/kg) alone and ropivacaine 0.25 % (1ml/kg) with clonidine 2 mcg/kg, in children between 2- 10 years. METHODS Sixty children posted for various sub-umbilical surgical procedures were included after written informed consent and ethics committee approval. Children were randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 each: Group R —ropivacaine 0.25 % 1 ml/kg into caudal epidural space and Group RC—ropivacaine 0.25 % 1 ml/kg and clonidine 2 mcg/kg into caudal epidural space. RESULTS The mean age of patients was similar with no statistical difference (4.83 vs 5.36, P = 0.3353). The duration of anaesthesia was significantly longer in the RC group (544.83 minutes vs 268.00 minutes, P < 0.0001). The effect size was very high (Cohen d=23.86). The pain score was comparable up to 1 hour for the two groups. But 2 hours later, the pain scores were significantly lower for the ropivacaine and clonidine groups. The effect on motor blockade was similar in both groups with no motor blockade at 4 hours follow up. 5 cases of urinary retention were seen in the study with no statistically significant difference in terms of complication rate between the two groups. No case of hypotension or bradycardia was seen. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of cardiovascular parameters (HR, SBP, DBP) after administration of drugs. CONCLUSIONS The addition of clonidine to ropivacaine for caudal blocks in children was associated with better quality of pain control and a longer duration of analgesia without any additional motor blockade. There was no significant difference seen in terms of complication. KEY WORDS Analgesia Duration, Caudal Analgesia, Clonidine, Pain Control, Ropivacaine.

Development and Validation of a Predictive Score and Application of Ultrasound for Difficult Caudal Epidural Blockade in Adult Patients：A Prospective Study

Background: We aimed to develop a predictive difficult caudal epidural blockade (pDCEB) model when ultrasound was not available and verify the role of ultrasound in difficult caudal epidural blockade(CEB).Methods: This study consisted of three phases. First, we prospectively enrolled 202 patients and assessed risk factors to develop the predictive scoring system. Second, we enrolled 87 patients to validate it. Third, we enrolled 68 patients with a high risk of difficult CEB (pDCEB score ≥ 3) and randomized them into ultrasound and landmark groups to verify the role of ultrasound. Result: The rate of difficult CEB was 14.98% overall 289 patients. We found a correlation of unclear palpation of the sacral hiatus (OR 9.688) and cornua (OR 4.725), number of the sacral hiatus by palpation ≥ 1 (OR 4.451), and history of difficult CEB (OR 39.282) with higher possibility of difficult CEB. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the pDCEB model involving the aforementioned factors was 0.889 (95% CI, 0.827-0.952) in the development cohort and 0.862 (95% CI, 0.747-0.977) in the validation cohort. For patients with a pDCEB score ≥ 3, pre-procedure ultrasound scan could reduce the incidence of difficult CEB. Conclusion: This novel pDCEB score, which takes into account palpation of the sacral hiatus/cornua, number of the sacral hiatus by palpation ≥ 1, and history of difficult CEB, showed a good predictive ability of difficult CEB. The findings suggested that performing an ultrasound scan is essential for patients with a pDCEB score ≥ 3. 4 Trial registration: No: ChiCTR1800018871, Site url: https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=31875&htm=4