A randomised controlled study to compare the analgesic efficacy of Caudal Block between Bupivacaine alone and Bupivacaine with Morphine for post-operative analgesia in pediatric patients(01-05 years) undergoing lower abdominal surgeries

Caudal injections of bupivacaine arecommonly used in children undergoing lower abdominal and urogenital surgery toprovide intraoperative analgesia. There is paucity of literature regarding useof bupivacaine with morphine in caudal analgesia for post-operative analgesia.This study has not been done earlier in our institute. Hence we plan to compareefficacy and possible side effects of bupivacaine versus mixture of bupivacaineand morphine when used in caudal analgesia for post-operative analgesia. A prospective,randomized controlled study will be conducted on patient with ASAI/II physical Status undergoing lower abdominal surgeries undergeneral anaesthesia  after obtaining approval from the hospital ethicscommittee. Prior written informed consent will be taken from parents of all thepatients in the language they understand. Total number of patients 100will be enrolled and divided into two group: GROUP –I (n = 50) will bereceiving Caudal analgesia with bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml kg-1)GROUP-II (n = 50) will be receiving Caudal analgesia with bupivacaine 0.25% (1ml kg-1 ) and morphine 40 mcg kg-1. Pain assessment will be doneusing  FLACC score which will be recorded at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hrs aftersurgery by the observer. Rescue analgesia will be givenfor FLACC score ≥ 4 in the form of Inj. Paracetamol 15 mg kg-1 intravenous. The study will be a double blind randomly allocated design. Local or systemiccomplications throughout the study will be recorded and managed accordingly. There is noconflict of interest.