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BackgroundImmune responses appear to be affected by anesthetics and analgesics. We investigated the effects of caudal tramadol on the postoperative immune response and pain management in pediatric patients.MethodsSixty ASA-I pediatric patients aged 3–10 years undergoing lower abdominal surgery. Patients were randomly assigned either to a caudal bupivacaine (0.25%) group (group B), or a group that received caudal tramadol (1 mg/kg) added to the bupivacaine (0.25%) (group T). Both were diluted in a 0.9% NaCl solution to a total volume of 1ml/kg. The systemic immune response was measured by collecting blood samples preoperatively, at the end of anesthesia, and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively, and studied for interleukin IL-6, C-reactive proteins (CRP) cortisol levels, and leucocytes with its differential count. Postoperative pain was assessed along with sedation scales.ResultsPostoperative production of IL-6 was significantly higher in group B at the end of anesthesia, than at the 24th hour, and at the 72nd hour in group B and group T, respectively. The immune response showed leukocytosis with increased percentages of neutrophil and monocytes, and a decreased lymphocyte response rate within both groups with no significant differences between the groups. Cortisol and CRP were significantly higher in group B.ConclusionsAdding tramadol to a caudal bupivacaine block can attenuate the pro-inflammatory cytokine response, Cortisol, and CRP in children undergoing lower abdominal surgery.

Background: Effects of intraoperative recruitment maneuvers (RMs) on oxygenation and pulmonary compliance are lost during recovery if high inspired oxygen and airway suctioning are used. We investigated the effect of post-extubation noninvasive CPAP mask application on the alveolar arterial oxygen difference [(A-a) DO 2 ] after pediatric laparoscopic surgery. Methods: Sixty patients (1-6 years) were randomly allocated to three groups of 20 patients, to receive zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP group), RM with decremental PEEP titration only (RM group), or followed with post-extubation CPAP for 5 minutes (RM-CPAP group). Primary outcome was [(A-a) DO 2 ] at 1 hour postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were respiratory mechanics, arterial blood gas analysis, hemodynamics, and adverse events. Results: At 1 hour postoperatively, mean [(A-a) DO 2 ] (mm Hg) was lower in the RM-CPAP group (41.5 ± 13.2, [95% CI 37.6-45.8]) compared to (80.2 ± 13.7 [72.6-87.5], P < 0.0001] and (59.2 ± 14.6, [54.8-62.6], P < 0.001) in the ZEEP and RM groups. The mean PaO 2 (mm Hg) at 1 hour postoperatively was higher in the RM-CPAP group (156.2 ± 18.3 [95% CI 147.6-164.7]) compared with the ZEEP (95.9 ± 15.9 [88.5-103.3], P < 0.0001) and RM groups (129.1 ± 15.9 [121.6-136.5], P < 0.0001). At 12 hours postoperatively, mean [(A-a) DO 2 ] and PaO 2 were (9.6 ± 2.1 [8.4-10.8]) and (91.9 ± 9.4[87.5-96.3]) in the RM-CPAP group compared to (25.8 ± 5.5 [23.6-27.6]) and (69.9 ± 5.5 [67.4-72.5], P < 0.0001) in the ZEEP group and (34.3 ± 13.2, [28.4-40.2], P < 0.0001) and (74.03 ± 9.8 [69.5-78.6], P < 0.0001) in the RM group. No significant differences of perioperative adverse effects were found between groups. Conclusions:An RM done after pneumoperitoneum inflation followed by decremental PEEP titration improved oxygenation at 1 hour postoperatively. The addition of an early post-extubation noninvasive CPAP mask ventilation improved oxygenation at 12 hours postoperatively.

To investigate the implication of dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate addition to bupivacaine in caudal anesthesia in paediatric lower abdominal surgeries. Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Paediatric University Hospital. Subjects: 120 children undergoing surgeries in the lower half of the body under general anaesthesia with a supplementary caudal block using 1 ml/kg bupivacaine 0.25%. Methods: Participants were randomly allocated into four groups; group C (saline as an additive to bupivacaine), group MG (50 mg magnesium sulphate added to bupivacaine), group D (1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine added to bupivacaine), and group MGD (the same doses of both dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate were added to bupivacaine). Time to first analgesia request (1ry outcome), and pain assessment by The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) score just after recovery, then every 30 min in the early two hours, then at the 4th, 6th, 12th,18th, and 24th hours were compared between the groups. Results: Time to first analgesia request was significantly longer in the three study groups compared to group C with p < 0.001 (median values of 5, 14.5, 13.5, and 20.47 h in groups C, D, MG, and MGD in consequence). FLACC scores were significantly higher in group C in comparison to the other study groups by the early 2nd, 4th, and 6th postoperative hours. The group MGD has significantly lowest FLACC at the 6th postoperative hour. Conclusion: The combination of dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate with bupivacaine caudal block can prolong the time to first analgesia request.

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