The effect of epidural blockade on postoperative hypercoagulability following abdominal aortic bypass surgery

The effect of epidural blockade on postoperative hypercoagulability was assessed in patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic bypass surgery. Twenty patients were randomised to receive general anaesthesia alone, or general anaesthesia plus thoracic epidural blockade with 0.5% bupivacaine. It was found that the addition of epidural blockade did not alter the postoperative increase in plasma fibrinogen, factor VIII coagulant, or alpha 1-antitrypsin. Similarly, epidural blockade did not affect the postoperative decrease in antithrombin III. The results suggest that epidural blockade with local anaesthetic agents does not prevent the postoperative hypercoagulability response following abdominal aortic bypass surgery.