Comparative study of different methods of anesthesia with transrectal resection of the large bowel in Hirschsprung's disease in young children

Aim. Improvement of the safety of patients and of effectiveness of anesthetic protection for young children with Hirschsprung's disease during transrectal resection of the large bowel by comparative study of various methods of anesthesia and creating an effective and safe anesthesia regimen.

Methods. The study included 25 children with Hirschsprung's disease who underwent transrectal resection of the large intestine. All examined patients were divided into two groups depending on the chosen method of anesthesia. In clinical group 1 (n=13) multicomponent endotracheal anesthesia with high doses of fentanyl were selected for anesthesia, in clinical group 2 (n=12), surgical interventions were performed under general anesthesia combined with caudal block.

Results. The level of cortisol in patients from group 2 at the 2nd stage of the study significantly decreased by 22%, which indicated the adequacy of this technique of anesthesia. Also, in patients of this group at the 4th stage of the study the level of cortisol and glucose did not change. In patients from group 1 who underwent multicomponent general anesthesia with high doses of fentanyl, at the 4th stage of the study a significant increase occurred in the level of cortisol and glucose by 48.6 and 93.6%, respectively. This indicates the appearance of severe pain 24 hours after the surgery.

Conclusion. Caudal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia provides a reliable analgesic effect and miorelaxation in transrectal resection of the colon in Hirschsprung's disease in young children; the combined administration of trimeperidine (promedol) with ropivacain (naropine) into the caudal canal prolongs the analgesic effect up to 24 hours.