Comparison of Characteristics of Caudal Block in Two Different Approaches: Trans-Sacral and Trans-Sacral Hiatus.

Background: Caudal block offers a good and safe postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients. In a randomized study we have examined the characteristics and mean duration of analgesia after caudal anesthesia performed with two different routes: trans-sacral and trans-sacral hiatus. Methods: Forty boys in Ali-Ebne-Abitaleb Hospital of Zahedan undergoing hyspospadias repair were randomly allocated in two groups to receive bupivacaine 1.5mg/kg from sacral route in one group and from sacral hiatus route in the control group. Postoperative pain and sedation scores were assessed for 12 hr after operation. Results: The time of first requiring of additional analgesia did not differ significantly between two groups (365±40 min in sacral group vs 390±35 min in trans-sacral-hiatus group) (P value=0.17). Side effects were not seen in any patients. Two groups were comparable with regards pain scores and sedation scores at 1 and 7h (P > 0.05). Conclusions: We concluded that the trans-sacral route is an acceptable, safe and easy method for performing caudal block, but total duration of analgesia did not differ with these two methods.