Does Use of Ultrasound Reduce the Rate of Sham Caudal Block in Children

Withdrawn before enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Regional Anesthesia Morbidity

In brief

Caudal blocks are one of the most commonly performed regional anesthetics in children and are performed daily for a host of infra-umbilical surgical procedures. A caudal block is an epidural injection, most commonly of local anesthetic into the epidural space as accessed via the sacral hiatus. In children, the sacral hiatus is a normally occurring aperture in which the epidural space may be accessed with extremely minimal risk; as neural tissue ends more proximally. Due to this measure of safety, caudal blocks are preferred in children when compared with standard lumbar epidurals. Caudal blocks are performed blindly using palpation and tactile feedback to assess if the medication is being administered in the correct location. As a result of blind injection, administration of local anesthetic totally or partially outside of the correct site can often be unnoticed or identified after a significant volume has already been injected. With the potential for toxicity of local anesthetic, this may result in either the inability to give a complete dose or an unintentional and often unnoticed sham block "incorrect site of injection".

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03283865

Run by

Baylor College of Medicine

People needed

0

Starts

2017-06-30

Expected to finish

2017-10-30

Last updated by the study team

2020-02-24

Who can join

Age: any, up to 7. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Children ages 0-84 months
• Infra-umbilical procedure for which a caudal block is already planned
• American Society of Anesthesiology classifications of 1,2 or 3

You may not qualify if…

• Incarcerated hernias
• Emergency procedures
• Local Anesthetic allergy
• Sacral dimple
• Rash over sacrum
• Parents/legal guardians unable to consent for surgical procedure in English language Foster Care/Child protective services as guardians
• Parental Refusal for caudal block or study participation
• American Society of Anesthesiology classifications other than 1,2 or 3

Where it is running

• Texas childrens Hospital — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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