The safety of a mixture of bupivacaine and lidocaine in children after urologic inguinal and scrotal surgery

PURPOSE: Local anesthetic agents such as bupivacaine and lidocaine are commonly used after surgery for pain control. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety of a mixture of bupivacaine and lidocaine in children who underwent urologic inguinal and scrotal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients who underwent pediatric urologic outpatient surgeries, were prospectively enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three groups according to age (group I: under 2 years, group II: between 3−4 years, and group III: 5 years and above). Patients were further sub-divided into unilateral and bilateral groups. All patients were injected with a mixture of 0.5% bupivacaine and 2% lidocaine (2:1 volume ratio) at the surgical site, just before the surgery ended. Hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters were measured before local anesthesia, 30 minutes after administration of local anesthesia, and 60 minutes after administration. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 40.5±39.9 months. All patients had normal hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters before local anesthesia, after 30 minutes, and after 60 minutes. Also, results of all intervals were within normal values, when analyzed by age and laterality. No mixture related adverse events (nausea, vomiting, pruritus, sedation, respiratory depression) or those related to electrocardiographic parameters (arrhythmias and asystole) were reported in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: A mixture of bupivacaine and lidocaine can be safely used in children undergoing urologic inguinal and scrotal surgery. An appropriate dose has no clinically significant hemodynamic or cardiac changes and adverse effects.