Keywords
infants
pain
caudal analgesia
caudal catheter
Abstract
Introduction: Pain management in children under one year of age faces challenges due to physiological immaturity, ethical limitations and difficulties in measuring pain. Scales such as PiPP and FLACC are used for this. Although multimodal analgesia, especially regional analgesia, is crucial, doses are restricted based on weight and physiological immaturity. Methods: A detailed search of literature in English and Spanish was carried out between 2013 and 2023, focusing on reviews, meta-analysis and clinical trials on caudal analgesia in neonates and infants. Results: Numerous studies support the effectiveness and safety of caudal analgesia in neonates and infants undergoing surgery, highlighting benefits such as shorter extubation time, low pain scores and reduction of complications. Although complication rates are observed, these do not appear to be a significant barrier to the widespread use of caudal blocks in this population. Discussion: Caudal analgesia in neonates and infants is crucial due to their physiological immaturity. Despite benefits such as early extubation and reduction of complications, the heterogeneity in studies and the lack of standards make recommendations difficult. Despite the complications, the need for specialized training in the placement of caudal catheters in this population is highlighted.
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