Background and Goal of study:
 The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of caudal dexamethasone with bupivacaine 0.25% for postoperative pain relief in children undergoing sub-umbilical surgical procedures.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized double blind study, 56 children of ASA-I class aged from 1 to 5 years scheduled for sub-umbilical surgical procedures were randomly allocated to two groups: 
-	group I received caudal block with : bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with placebo
-	group II received caudal block with : bupivacaine 0.25% (1 ml/kg) with dewamethasone 0.1 mg/ml.
Postoperatively patients were assessed for analgesia and side effects.
Results and discussion: Demographic parameters (age, weight, size, sex) and per operative heart rate and blood pressure were similar in both groups. Significantly high levels and prolonged duration of post-operative analgesia was observed from the 6th to the 24th post operative hours in group II (P<0.005) with no increased side effects.    
Conclusion:
Caudal dexamethasone may safely improve and prolongs post operative analgesia for   sub-umblical surgical procedures in children.

Analgesic efficacy of caudal dexamethasone combined with bupivacaine in ilioinguinal paediatric surgery: prospective randomized controlled trial