• X M Deng, W J Xiao, G Z Tang, M P Luo, and K L Xu.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Beijing, China.
• Anaesthesia. 2010 Oct 1;65(10):991-5.

AbstractWe compared the minimum local analgesia concentration of ropivacaine for intra-operative caudal analgesia in pre-school and school age children. Fifty-one boys, undergoing hypospadius repair surgery, were stratified into pre-school or school age groups. After induction of anaesthesia, caudal block was performed with ropivacaine 1 ml.kg⁻¹ of the desired concentration. The first child in each group received ropivacaine 0.125%, and subsequent concentrations were determined by the analgesic response of the previous patient using Dixon's up-and-down method. Under general anaesthesia with 0.7 minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane, the minimum local analgesia concentration of ropivacaine for intra-operative caudal block was 34% greater in school age than in pre-school age boys (0.143% (95% CI 0.132-0.157%) vs 0.107% (95% CI 0.089-0.122%), respectively; p < 0.001). This study indicates that a higher concentration of ropivacaine is needed for school age than pre-school age children to provide intra-operative caudal analgesia when combined with general anaesthesia.© 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

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