Background: Caudal anesthesia is one of the best options for perineal surgery. Ambulatory procedures requires caudal anesthetic methods permitting patients to be discharged shortly after surgery. In this study we aimed to evaluating the clonidine and fentanyl with ropivacaine in caudal epidural block for anorectal ambulatory surgeries.
Methods: Total ninety adult patients were randomized into three groups in a double-blinded as: group R: ropivacaine 0.5% with normal saline, group RC: ropivacaine 0.5% + 25µg clonidine and group RF: ropivacaine 0.5% + 25µg fentanyl. Patients were examined for motor block, sensory block, and block duration. Parametric data were analysed using ANOVA test. Non parametric data were analysed with chi square test.
Results: The demographic data were comparable with respect to age, BMI, sex, and ASA status in all groups. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the type of surgery and duration of surgery. Hyperbaric ropivacaine and fentanyl produced similar block characteristics in all three groups. Hemodynamic parameters were stable throughout the surgery in groups R, group RC and group RF. The time of first rescue analgesia were significantly different (p<0.05) in between inter-group and group R and group RF.
Conclusions: In this prospective study, small-dose ropivacaine with clonidine was as effective as small-dose ropivacaine with fentanyl for anorectal procedures in the ambulatory procedure.