1. Caudal epidural Dr. S. Parthasarathy
MD., DA., DNB, MD (Acu), Dip. Diab. DCA, Dip. Software statistics – Ph D physiology.
Mahatma gandhi medical college and research institute, puducherry, India

2. Introduction easiest and safest approach to the epidural space
sole anaesthetic for some procedures, or it may be combined with general anaesthesia.
peri and post operative analgesia in adults and children 

3. History Cathelin 1901 Hingson 1943 (labour pain )
Brazilian anaesthetists 1962 popularized for paediatrics
Failures??
5 % failure if selection of cases is commonsense based

4. INDICATIONS Anaesthesia and analgesia below the umbilicus
Obstetric analgesia for the 2nd stage or instrumental deliveries
Chronic pain problems such as leg pain after prolapsed intervertebral disc, or post shingles pain below the umbilicus.
Common in paediatrics – circumcision, hernia, orchiopexy, hypospadias

5. Newer adult indications
vasospastic or vasocclusive disease, including frostbite and ergotamine toxicity
Cancer pain management

6. Newer adult indications
percutaneous epidural neuroplasty
the use of caudal analgesia following lumbar spinal surgery
caudal analgesia after emergency orthopedic lower extremity surgery;

7. And extra Better post op period Preemptive analgesia
Only technique for premature infants

8. Contraindications Infection near the site of the needle insertion.
Coagulopathy or anti coagulation.
Pilonidal cyst
Congenital abnormalities of the lower spine or meninges,
Hydrocephalus and intracranial tumors decrease intracranial compliance

9. Anatomy

10. Triangle

11. The sacral hiatus is a defect in the lower part of the posterior wall of the sacrum formed by the failure of the laminae of S5 and/or S4 to meet and fuse in the midline
The sacral canal is a continuation of the lumbar spinal canal which terminates at the sacral hiatus.

12. The sacral canal contains
The terminal part of the dural sac, ending between S1 and S3.
The five sacral nerves and coccygeal nerves making up the cauda equina
The filum terminale
Epidural fat, the character of which changes from a loose texture in children to a more fibrous close-meshed texture in adults.

13. So the problem is puberty

14. Technique
There are three main approaches:
prone,
semi-prone,
lateral

15. Practical problems in anatomy
Size, position of sacral hiatus :
Semi closed, closed or asymmetrical
AP diameter
2 mm to 1.5 cm
Lateral width

16. Practical problems in anatomy
Volume of sacral canal :
12 ml to 65 ml
Sacral foramina
Posterior sacral foramina – sacro spinalis muscles.
Anterior sacral foramina unobstructed
Curvature :
Less – more straight needle – females

17. Practical problems in anatomy
Lordosis and lumbosacral angle
Cephalad flow less in lordotics
Epidural fat
Loose wide meshed to tight fibrous in adults
Predictable in children to unpredictable spread in adults

18. Equipment A Crawford needle similar to Touhy needle
Crawford needle's bevel is in alignment with the shaft of the needle so that a catheter exits the needle in a straight line.
The Crawford needle is ideal for either single-shot local anesthetic injection or for placement of a caudal epidural catheter.
Routine needles of 21 to 25 G

19. Adults –prone ok -internal rotation of ankle -not sedated

20. Semiprone & lateral Sedation is ok Children - lateral is fine
Easy to find landmarks
Don’t overflex knees as in lumbar epidural

21. Palpate up from down coccyx feel hiatus depression- distance

22. Technique Local anaesth. Less than 0.5 ml 45 * from the sacrum
Pierce sacro coc. Mem
Angle to degrees
Two methods

23. Aspirate Midline lump?? Whoosch test

24. Gauge needle 22 or 23 or 21 21 = feel good Easy
23 or 24 good in infants

25. Flouroscopy

26. USG guided
Ultrasound may be used as an effective screening tool for caudal epidural injections. Anatomic variations of the sacral hiatus can be clearly observed using ultrasound.

27. Dose ??
Segment
Age
Weight
Local anaesthetics

28. Dose 0.25 mg / kg / segment of 0.25 % bupivacaine T 10 level , 10 kg
13 * 10 * = 32.5 mg of bupivacaine
= ml of 0.5 % bupi or 13 ml of 0.25 %

29. Armitage schedule Armitage recommends bupivacaine
0.5ml/kg for a lumbosacral block,
1 ml/kg for a thoraco-lumbar block,
1.25 ml/kg for a mid thoracic block
one part of 0.9% NaCl to three parts local anaesthetic to produce a 0.19%

30. Verghese Sacral : 0.5 ml/kg Lumbar : 1 ml/kg
Thoracolumbar : 1.25 ml/kg

31. Schrock
Sacral : 0.7 ml/kg
Lumbar : 1 ml/kg
Thoracolumbar : 1.3 ml/kg

32. Dose with age
0.1 mL/ segment/year of age 1% lidocaine or 0.25% bupivacaine. Dose : adults = 3 ml /segment

33. Other drugs 1 mL/kg of 0.2% ropivacaine, 1 ml/kg of 1% lignocaine
Levobupi % 1 mg /kg

34. Tingling is OK
Tingling or a feeling of fullness that extends from the sacrum to the soles of the feet is common during injection.
The injection should never be more than 10 ml/30 seconds.

35. Additives Epinephrine : 1 in 2 lakh Ketamine : 0.5 mg/kg
Clonidine at 1 to 2 mcg/kg
Tramadol 1 mg/kg
Neostigmine 2 mcg/kg
Morphine 30 mic/kg --others??

36. The large capacity of the sacral canal
significant volumes may be lost through the wide anterior sacral foramina.
the caudal dose requirements of local anaesthetics are significantly larger to effect the same segmental spread. Roughly twice
Drugs injected in the caudal space take longer to spread

37. Caudal catheters
Intraop and postop analgesia and stress reduction in major cases
0.1 % bupi mL/kg per hr
Add opioids – if necessary - fentanyl sos

38. Complications
Intravascular or intraosseous injection. This may lead to grand mal seizures and/or cardio-respiratory arrest.
Test dose & aspiration
Perforation of the rectum – beware of infection than needle prick

39. Complications- continued
Sepsis – very rare
Urinary retention.
Subcutaneous injection
Inadequate block
Haematoma
Unpredictability
Hypotension ??

40. Some examples 2 kg infant for herniotomy 0.25 mg / kg / segment
13 * 2 * 0.25 = 6.5 mg = 2.6 ml of 0.25% bupi

41. Some examples what to follow ??
15 kg 4 years child - club foot
0.25 mg / kg / segment
0.25 * 15 * 10 = 37.5 mg
15 ml of 0.25 % BUPI
OR 0.1 mL/ segment/year of age
0.1 * 10 * 4 = 4 ml

42. Thank you for listening like this