Infrared Thermography for Assessment of Caudal Block in Children

A Clinical Evaluation Of Infrared Thermography To Assess Successful Caudal Block In Children

Regional analgesia via caudal neuraxial blockade provides pain relief for pediatric patients following urological and lower extremity procedures. The injection of local anesthetic into the caudal epidural space causes a sensory loss. This sympathetic blockade in turn causes a vasodilation, or increased blood flow, to the lower extremities.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the FLIR ONE thermographic camera, a smartphone attachment which utilizes an application ("app") to measure the temperature at a site on an image of the lower extremity, will be able to differentiate between caudal, non-caudal, and failed caudal images.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children from 6mos to 5 years of age requiring general anesthesia and a caudal block for a surgical procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with preexisting conditions that could affect the skin temperature on the lower extremities such as infection, edema, vascular disorder, etc.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists comorbidity ranking of 4 or greater
• Patient with contraindications for a caudal block such as: history of allergic, reactions to local anesthetics, coagulopathy, infection at the injection site, spinal abnormality, peripheral neurological disease, Raynaud's disease