My daughter also had her surgery at 10 months old. The caudal block is a wonderful idea, they act as if they have not even had surgery. That lasted for 24 hours and then she was on Demerol. Katie went home with a catheter which had to be in for about a week. That was also really not that big of a deal. She seemed to handle it all very well. She was also on antibiotics for about a year, prophylactically, a small dose in the mornings just in case. She started walking soon after that and did not seem to have any problems with anything. The kids seem to handle this type of thing better than the parents. Her surgery also lasted about four hours and it was the longest four hours I have ever spent.....they seem so little for such big things, but they are such troopers. Make sure that your family discusses blood transfusions with the anesthesiologist or doctor because they do lose a lot of blood during this procedure as there are many, many blood vessels down there. Katie did not need one, but it always pays to be prepared for any contigency. GOod luck to your niece....I am sure things will go well.