Definition

Noun: - A type of regional anesthesia induced by injecting an anesthetic agent into the sacral canal (the caudal end of the spinal canal). This blocks nerve impulses from the lower body, providing pain relief, primarily for procedures involving the perineum, rectum, or lower extremities. Its use in modern medicine has been largely superseded by epidural anesthesia techniques.

Usage

• Medical Procedure: Used to describe a specific anesthetic technique.
  • Caudal anesthesia is sometimes chosen for pediatric surgery below the waist.
  • The obstetrician considered caudal anesthesia for pain management during the later stages of labor.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Comparative Context: Often discussed in contrast to more modern methods.
  • While once common, caudal anesthesia is now a footnote in most anesthesiology textbooks, having been replaced by more reliable epidural blocks.

Variants and Related Words

• Caudal block: A synonymous term for caudal anesthesia.
  • The surgeon requested a caudal block for the hemorrhoidectomy.
• Epidural anesthesia: A related but distinct regional anesthesia technique involving injection into the epidural space of the spine, which has largely replaced the caudal approach for many applications.

Synonyms

• Caudal block
• Sacral canal block

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to an injection into the caudal epidural space via the sacral hiatus. It is a subset of regional anesthesia and neuraxial blockade. Its primary distinction from a lumbar epidural is the site of injection (the sacrum versus the lumbar vertebrae).

Noun

1. regional anesthesia resulting from injection of an anesthetic into the caudal end of the spinal canal; now largely replaced by epidural anesthesia