Thoracic epidural anesthesia increases mucosal perfusion in ileum of rats

Previous studies reported that thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) protected against a decrease in gastric intramucosal pH, suggesting that TEA increased gut mucosal perfusion. The current study examines the effects of TEA on ileal mucosa using intravital microscopy in anesthetized rats.

Nineteen rats were equipped with epidural catheters, with the tip placed at T7 through T9. Rats were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. After midline abdominal incision, the ileum was prepared for intravital microscopy. Videomicroscopy on the ileal mucosa was performed before and after epidural infusion of 20 microliter of bupivacaine 0.4% (TEA group, n = 11 rats) or normal saline (control group, n = 8 rats). Microvascular blood flow in ileum mucosa was assessed offline using computerized image analysis.

Control rats exhibited unchanged mean arterial pressure and microvascular perfusion. During TEA, mean arterial pressure was decreased compared with the control group (93 +/- 10 vs. 105 +/- 9 mmHg; P < 0.05). Epidural bupivacaine increased red cell velocity in terminal arterioles from 888 +/- 202 to 1,215 +/- 268 micrometer/s (control, 793 +/- 250 to 741 +/- 195 micrometer/s; P < 0.001 between groups). Because arteriolar diameter was not affected, this increase in red cell velocity may represent an increase in arteriolar blood flow. Total intercapillary area (inversely related to perfused capillary density) was unchanged, but for the TEA group the difference between total intercapillary area and the intercapillary area calculated for continuously perfused capillaries was decreased compared with the control group (16 +/- 12 vs. 40 +/- 19%; P < 0.001), indicating a decrease in intermittent (stop-and-go) blood flow in the villus microcirculation.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia increased gut mucosal blood flow and reduced intermittent flow in the villus microcirculation in the presence of a decreased perfusion pressure.