A randomized controlled study for analgesic efficacy of fentanyl as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in caudal epidural block in paediatric patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries in general anaesthesia

• STUDY PERMISSION: Due permission from the institution ethics committee and research review board will be obtained. • STUDY AREA: The study will be conducted in the Department of paediatric Anaesthesia, JK Lone Hospital attached to S.M.S. Hospital, Jaipur. • STUDY DESIGN: Prospective , Randomized, Double blind, Interventional study. • STUDY PERIOD: After approval of the plan from the research review board till the completion of desired sample size. • SAMPLE SIZE: sample size is calculated at 80% study power and error of 0.05 assuming standard deviation of 312.84 minutes of duration of analgesia in ropivacaine + fentanyl group as found in seed article(1)for minimum detectable mean difference of 240 minutes in duration of analgesia between the groups , 27 patients in each group are required as sample size which is further enhanced to 30 patients in each group as final sample size for present study expecting 10% attrition. • RANDOMIZATION – opaque sealed envelope method. • DOUBLE BLINDING- The anaesthesiologist who would give caudal block would be different from the anaesthesiologist who would record study variables. • STUDY UNIVERSE: Pediatric Patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries under general anaesthesia.