Paediatric analgesia for inguinal-scrotal surgery: caudal vs. block

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Paediatric analgesia for inguinal-scrotal surgery: caudal epidural injection vs. nerve block

• IRAS ID

  205800

• Contact name

  Kumarvel Veerappan

• Contact email

  kumarvel.veerappan@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Medway NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 4 months, 2 days

• Research summary

  Two methods of pain control in children undergoing surgery on the groin and scrotum are caudal injection (a form of epidural) with local anaesthetic, and a regional nerve block (an injection of local anaesthetic around the nerves supplying the area). A pilot study at our hospital showed a significant decrease in post-operative pain and nausea and vomiting in these two methods when compared to intravenous morphine and local anaesthetic to the wound.

  One potential side effect from caudal injections is temporarily decreased motor power in the legs due to the local anaesthetic - it is thought that this might be overcome using a more dilute solution of local anaesthetic along with clonidine. This study is to demonstrate that this method is as effective as the use of a regional nerve block.

• REC name

  London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/LO/1187

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Jul 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion