Caudal block linked to post-urethroplasty complications

(HealthDay)—For pediatric patients undergoing urethroplasty, caudal block is associated with surgical complications, according to a study published online May 9 in Anaesthesia.

M.H. Kim, from the Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues examined the correlation between caudal block and postoperative complications after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. The authors retrospectively analyzed medical records of 388 pediatric patients who underwent urethroplasty.

The researchers found that of the 342 patients included, 216 received a caudal block and 21.1 percent suffered surgical complications. Surgical complications occurred in significantly more patients who received a caudal block than those who did not receive a caudal block (24.5 versus 15.1 percent; P = 0.04). Independent risk factors for surgical complications included duration of surgery, caudal block, and hypospadias types. Compared with patients without caudal block, patients with caudal block had an odds ratio of 2.1 for the development of postoperative complications (P = 0.018).

"This analysis demonstrates that caudal block is associated with surgical complications after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty," the authors write.