Sex differences in pediatric caudal epidural anesthesia under sedation without primary airway instrumentation

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify sex differences associated with caudal epidurals, the most commonly used technique of pediatric regional anesthesia, based on individually validated data of ultrasound-guided blocks performed between 04/2014 and 12/2020. METHODS: Prospectively collected and individually validated data of a cohort of children aged between 0–15 years was analyzed in a retrospective observational study. We included pediatric surgeries involving a primary plan of caudal epidural anesthesia under sedation (without airway instrumentation) and a contingency plan of general anesthesia. Sex-specific rates were analyzed for overall failure of the primary anesthesia plan, for residual pain, for block-related technical complications and for critical respiratory events. We used Fisher´s exact tests and multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate sex-specific associations. RESULTS: Data from 487 girls and 2060 boys ≤15 years old (ASA status 1 to 4) were analyzed. The primary-anesthesia-plan failure rate was 5.5% (95%CI 3.8%-7.8%) (N = 27/487) among girls and 4.7% (95%CI 3.9%-5.7%) (N = 97/2060) among boys (p = 0.41). Residual pain was the main cause of failure, with rates of 4.5% (95%CI 2.9–6.6%) (N = 22/487) among girls and 3.0% (95%CI 2.3–3.8%) (N = 61/2060) among boys (p = 0.089). Block-related technical complications were seen at rates of 0.8% (95%CI 0.3%-1.9%) (N = 4/487) among girls vs 2.5% (95%CI 0.5–2.7%) (N = 51/2060) among boys and, hence, significantly more often among male patients (p = 0.023). Male sex was significantly associated with higher odds (adjusted OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.12–9; p = 0.029) for such technical complications regardless of age, ASA status, gestational week at birth or puncture attempts. Critical respiratory events occurred at a 1.7% (95%CI 1.2%-2.3%) rate (N = 35/2060) twice as high among boys as 0.8% (95%CI 0.3%-1.9%) (N = 4/487) among girls (p = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: While the the primary-anesthesia-plan failure rate was equal for girls and boys, technical complications and respiratory events are more likely to occur in boys.