The Effect of Combined General-epidural vs General Anaesthesia on Postoperative Gastrointestinal Surgery

Sixty neonates and infants will be enrolled and randomised into two groups of n=30 each . For their surgical procedures, one group general (GA) anaesthesia the second group will receive a combined general and epidural anaesthesia (CGEA). Anaesthetic technique: Patients in the GA group will be induced with intravenous propofol (2-4 mg.kg-1) and fentanyl (2-4 µg.kg-1) and will receive rocuronium bromide (0.5 mg.kg-1) to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Anaesthesia will be maintained with sevoflurane (2-3%) in an air/oxygen mixture as well as intravenous fentanyl as required. In the (CGEA) 0.5 ml.kg-1 of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected into the epidural catheter, followed by a continuous infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine at a rate of 0.2 mg.kg-1.hr-1 for up to 48 hours postoperatively. Assessment of anaesthetic efficacy will be measured Intraoperative care vital signs. And will continuously be monitored with a Datex AS/3 (Engestrom®, Helsinki, Finland) monitor. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis will be determined by the degree of bowel contamination during surgery, with the commonest regimen consisting of penicillin, gentamicin and metronidazole will be administered. Antibiotics will be continued for 36-48 hours postoperatively to prevent infection arising from the disturbed bowel flora. Postoperative care, following surgery, will be conducted. The feeding volume will be increased in steps as long as the volume of regurgitated fluid will be less than 20% of the administered breast milk or formula volume. Full feeding will define as oral tolerance of at least 80% of daily maintenance volume. In cases of abdominal distension or vomiting, feeding will withheld until symptom resolution. The nasogastric tube will be removed on bowel function restoration The CRIES score will be use to assess the severity and duration of postoperative pain during the patients' NICU stay. If the CRIES score is ≥4, fentanyl will be continuously intravenously infused in both study group. F