Comparison of Analgesic Effect of Dexmedetomidine versus Tramadol as Adjuvants to Caudal Ropivacaine in Infraumbilical Surgeries among Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Double Blind Interventional Study

Objective: To compare the postoperative analgesic effects of 0.2% ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine (2 g/kg) and tramadol mg/kg) among pediatric patients undergoing infra umbilical surgery.Material Methods: This hospital based, randomized double blind interventional study included 60 patients, aged 1–7 years, having American Society Anaesthesiology grade I II, weighing 7-25 kg, infraumbilical surgeries under general anesthesia. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either: 2 mcg/ kg or mg/kg Tramadol, as adjuvant Ropivacaine. Pain intensity was assessed using observational Children’s Hospital Eastern Ontario Scale (CHEOPS) score. Rescue analgesia given, when CHEOPS score ≥6. Duration defined as: time period between administrations block until rescue given. Level sedation by Ramsay score.Results: Kaplan Meier analysis showed that median first (duration analgesia) significantly (p-value<0.001) prolonged (780 minutes; 95% CI: 760.68–799.32 minutes) compared Tramadol (648 635.92–660.38 minutes). Mean emergence duration also Tramadol.Conclusion: In surgeries, Ropivacaine provides an advantage longer post-operative lack opioid related adverse events associated Tramadol.