Comparative study between ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block and caudal epidural block anesthesia in children undergoing hypospadias surgery

Abstract

Abstract Background The aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block versus caudal epidural block as a part of multimodal analgesia in children undergoing hypospadias surgery. In this prospective, single-blinded study, 50 patients were randomized into 2 groups (25 each group) either receiving ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block group A or caudal epidural block group B. In the pudendal nerve block group, patients were injected with 0.3 mL/kg 0.25% bupivacaine and 1 ug/kg fentanyl. In the caudal epidural group, patients were injected with 1 mL/kg 0.25% bupivacaine and 1 ug/kg fentanyl. Consumption of paracetamol was assessed during the first 24 h postoperatively. The “objective pain scale” done by Hannalah and Broadman was used to assess postoperative pain. Results This prospective randomized controlled single-blind clinical study was performed on total (50) ASA status I or II patients, of age 3 to 6 years scheduled for hypospadias surgery. For the primary outcome, there was no statistically significant difference found between the two studied groups regarding objective pain score at arrival to PACU with p value = 1.000 while there was a statistically significant increase in pain score in group B than group A at 6 h and 12 h with p value = 0.017 and 0.003, respectively. Also, no statistically significant difference found between the two groups after 18 h with p value = 0.238 may be due to receiving acetaminophen dose in group B. Finally there was a statistically significant increase found in objective pain score in group B at 24 h than group A with p value = 0.015. And there was a statistically significant increase in time to first analgesia in group A than group B with p value < 0.001 while there was a statistically significant increase in total dose of acetaminophen in group B than group A with p value < 0.001. Conclusion Both ultrasound-guided pudendal block and caudal epidural block are effective and safe methods for postoperative analgesia for children undergoing hypospadias surgery but ultrasound-guided pudendal block gives more postoperative pain control.