Effects of Lumbar Paravertebral and Caudal Block in Postoperative Pain Treatment in Children

Aim: We aim to compare effects of peroperative anesthetic agent saving of levobupivacaine at lumbar paravertebral and caudal block made in unilateral inguinal hernia, hydrocele and undescended testis and postoperative pain treatment on analgesia.Material and Method: After taking approval of Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee and parents, 70 children has been included, whose ages is in between 1-12 years old, American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) I-II group, and who undergone surgery from pediatric surgery due to unilateral inguinal hernia, hydrocele and undescended testis. Patients have been divided into two groupsLateral decubitus position is given in a manner that those that will be operated stays at top to the I. group after induction and paravertebral block has been applied with 0.2 ml/kg volume levobupivacaine (0.25%) with maskLeft lateral decubitus position is given to the I. group after induction and caudal block has been applied with 0.5 ml/kg volume levobupivacaine (0.25%) with mask.Sevoflurane concentration, intraoperative and postoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heartbeat rate of cases has been recorded. Pain scors (CHEOPS), parent satisfaction degrees, number of cases that requires additional analgestic and side effects have been noted.Results: Demographic characteristics, operation periods, hemodynamical parameters of group are similar. Intraopeative sevoflurane concentrations that have been recorded in 10th, 15th, 30th and 60th minutes have been detected more less at Group I than Group II (p=0.001). Number of cases that requires analgestic in first 24 hours postoperative has been determined 5 in Group I and 12 in Group II. (p=0.050). It is detected statistically that postoperative analgestic duration of cases is longer in Group I than Group II (p=0.050). While number of parents who reviewed as perfect and good in terms of parent satisfaction is more in Group I, number of parents who reviewed as good and bad is more in Group II (p=0.010). Postoperative CHEOPS values are similar in both groups except 120th minute. No hypotension, bradycardia and respiratory depression have been seen in cases.Conclusion: It has been concluded that application of lumbar paravertebral block reduces peroperative anesthetic need more than caudal block, maintains longer postoperative analgesia, reduces additional anesthetic need more and increase parent satisfaction in children.Keywords: Children, lumbar paravertebral block, levobupivacaine, caudal block, postoperative pain, preoperative anesthetic agent saving.