Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Caudal Block on Urethrocutaneous Fistula After Distal Hypospadias Repair

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital urogenital anomalies in males, occurring in approximately 1 in every 200-300 male births. It is characterized by abnormal positioning of the urethral meatus on the ventral surface of the penis. Surgical repair is the standard treatment; however, urethrocutaneous fistula formation remains one of the most frequent and clinically significant postoperative complications, potentially requiring reoperation and causing considerable distress to both the patient and the family. Caudal nerve block is a widely used regional anesthesia technique in pediatric lower abdominal and genitourinary surgery, valued for its high analgesic efficacy, relative ease of application, and low complication profile. However, emerging evidence suggests that caudal block may be associated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications following hypospadias repair, including fistula formation and wound edema. Notably, Kundra et al. (2012) reported a fistula rate of 19.2% in patients who received caudal block, compared to 0% in those who received penile block, raising important questions about the routine use of caudal block in hypospadias surgery. This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of caudal block on the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula following distal hypospadias repair. A total of 80 male patients aged 6-60 months will be randomized 1:1 to either receive general anesthesia with caudal block or general anesthesia alone. The primary outcome is the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula. Secondary outcomes include perioperative opioid consumption, postoperative pain scores, analgesic duration, and other surgical complications such as wound dehiscence and urethral stricture. Patients will be followed up for 3-6 months postoperatively. The study will be conducted across four centers in Turkey. Results are expected to provide evidence-based guidance on the role of caudal block in pediatric hypospadias repair.

Comparison of Caudal Block Combined With General Anesthesia and Penile Block and Intravenous Fentanyl in Pediatric Surgeries

Urogenital surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the pediatric patient population. There is no consensus on which analgesic method is most effective for pain control in these patients. In clinical practice, if there are no contraindications, caudal block or penile block combined with intravenous fentanyl can be preferred as an analgesic method. In this study, the results of these two analgesia methods will be compared with the research.Randomly selected participants will be compared by looking at parameters such as postoperative questionnaire results, walking time and urination time.

Ultrasound Guided Sacral Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Ultrasound Guided Caudal Block in Pediatric Undergoing Hypospadias Surgery

Randomized, parallel-group, assessor-blinded clinical trial at Tanta University Hospitals comparing ultrasound-guided sacral erector spinae plane block (sESPB) versus ultrasound-guided caudal epidural block for postoperative analgesia in male children (1-5 years) undergoing hypospadias repair. Seventy participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive sESPB or caudal block with 0.25% bupivacaine (0.5-1 mL/kg; maximum 20 mL) after induction of general anesthesia. The primary outcome is pain over the first 24 hours, assessed using the FLACC scale at prespecified time points. Secondary outcomes include total opioid consumption, time to first rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting, parent/guardian satisfaction, hemodynamic trends, and predefined adverse effects (e.g., motor weakness, urinary retention, respiratory depression, hematoma, infection at injection site). Perioperative care is standardized; rescue pethidine is administered when FLACC ≥4. The trial evaluates whether sESPB provides superior or comparable analgesia with fewer adverse effects than caudal block.

Peripheral Perfusion Index as an Early Predictor of Successful Caudal Block in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominopelvic Surgeries Under General Anesthesia

The aim of this study is to assess early predictability of peripheral perfusion index to success of caudal block in pediatric patients undergoing lower abdominopelvic surgeries

Efficacy of Interventional Methods Used in the Treatment of Coccydynia

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of sacral erector spinae plane block and caudal epidural injection in patients with coccydynia resistant to conservative treatments. Ultrasound guidance will be used for sacral erector spinae plane block, while fluoroscopic guidance will be applied for caudal epidural injection. The effectiveness of these treatments will be assessed through face-to-face questionnaires, the Numerical Rating Scale and the Paris Functional Coccydynia Scale at first, fourth and twelfth-week follow-ups.