POST CIRCUMCISIONAL PAIN

COMPARISON OF CAUDAL AND PENILE BLOCKS FOR RELIEF OF PAIN

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the quality of pain relief with penile and caudal
blocks, after circumcision. To compare effectiveness, complication and acceptance by the parents. Design:
Comparative observational study. Setting & period: In the department of Anesthesia and intensive care Allama Iqbal
Medical College / Jinnah Hospital Lahore from Feb 1999 to March 2000. Patients & Methods: One hundred children
were selected for the study ranging from 1-10 years of age. Fifty children were randomly assigned to one of the two
groups each i.e. penile block (P) group and caudal block (C) group. All patients were anaesthetized and then before
the commencement of surgery either penile block or caudal block was performed. Children were nursed after surgery
in recovery room for three hours. Results: Effectiveness of two techniques, any complication and acceptance by the
children and the parents were studied during three hours stay in recovery area. Conclusion: Both penile and caudal
blocks are effective in controlling postoperative pain of circumcision in children. These blocks also reduce the
requirement of systemic analgesia.