Outcomes after single injection caudal epidural versus continuous infusionepidural via caudal approach for postoperative analgesia in infants and children undergoing patent ductus arteriosus ligation

Adequate postoperative analgesia enhances deep breathing and minimizes resp iratory complications after thoracotomy. This study compares postoperative outcomes after single injection caudal epidural vs continuous infusion epid ural via caudal approach for postoperative analgesia in infants and childre n undergoing thoracotomy for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation. A ret rospective chart review was performed for 27 children who had undergone PDA ligation. The children were divided into three groups. We compared patient demographics, surgical duration, anaesthesia duration, length of ICU stay, incidence of emesis requiring treatment, time required to establish regula r oral intake, requirement for supplemental intravenous opioids during the first postoperative day, and length of hospital stay. For paediatric patien ts undergoing PDA ligation, postoperative analgesia with continuous infusio n epidural via caudal approach produced shorter ICU stay, less occurrence o f postoperative emesis, earlier oral intake, elimination of intravenous opi oid supplementation, and shorter hospital stay compared with single injecti on caudal epidural techniques.