The utilization of caudal hydromorphone for fast-tracking in congenital cardiac surgery in a tertiary-care Children's hospital: An audit

Our study sought to audit our institutional practice of routine single-shot caudal epidural hydromorphone injection in children undergoing congenital cardiothoracic surgery to assess perioperative pain control and evaluate for any caudal complications. Retrospective observational study of all patients that received a caudal hydromorphone injection as part of the anesthetic for their cardiac surgical operation between January 2017 and July 2019. Pediatric Cardiothoracic Operating Room (OR), Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. One hundred and twenty-seven patients that received caudal hydromorphone as part of their anesthetic for a cardiac surgical operation. Caudal epidural injection performed immediately following induction of anesthesia utilizing only hydromorphone. The primary outcome was well-controlled pain, defined as a score of