• B K Bhattarai, T R Rahman, B P Sah, and U R Tuladhar.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. bhattaraibk@yahoo.com
• Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ). 2005 Jul 1;3(3):208-11.

ObjectiveTo assess whether simplified ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block in combination with minimal wound infiltration with local anaesthetic is better than caudal block with local anaesthetic alone in children undergoing inguinal herniotomy for easy transition to safe oral analgesia.Subject And MethodsSixty children of both sexes undergoing herniotomy were allocated randomly to receive either simplified (single puncture) ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block described by Dalens in combination with small volume wound infiltration with 0.1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine (Group I) or caudal block with 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine (Group II) at the end of surgery under general anaesthesia using halothane in oxygen and nitrous oxide mixture. Duration of analgesia, complication associated, parents and children's satisfaction were compared.ResultsThe mean duration of analgesia was 253+/-102.6 minutes in group I as compared to 219.6+/-48.4 minutes in group II. Six (20%) patients in group I and two (6.67%) patients in group II required parenteral analgesic. Complications and parents and children's satisfaction were comparable in both the groups.ConclusionSimplified ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks described by Dalens in combination with small volume local anaesthetic wound infiltration with its longer mean duration of analgesia offers better safety margin to start oral analgesics than caudal block with local anaesthetic alone in children undergoing herniotomy. Larger studies may further confirm the findings.

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