Anesthesia produced by injection of a local anesthetic into the caudal canal (toward the caudal or tail), the sacral portion (large heavy bone at the base of the spine) of the spinal canal: Caudal anesthesia is used to provide anesthesia and analgesia (pain relief) below the umbilicus.

Caudal anesthesia may be the sole anesthetic, or it can be combined with a general anesthesia.

For her knee operation, Dr. Smith, the anesthesiologist, administered a caudal anesthesia so Pearl was awake during the operation but she didn't feel any pain.