Combined epidural and general anesthesia versus general anesthesia in patients having colon and rectal anastomoses

Three retrospective studies were conducted at St. Vincent's Hospital to compare the outcomes of colorectal anastomoses, with and without resections, with respect to anesthetic technique. Operations were performed upon patients anesthetized with either combined regional (epidural) and general anesthesia (CRAG) or general anesthesia alone (GA). Postoperative pain relief was achieved with either continuous epidural analgesia (CEA) in the CRAG group or with postoperative narcotics in the GA groups (GA/PN). In one group, a different regimen was introduced: combined epidural and general anesthesia with postoperative epidural morphine (CRAG/EDM). Overall, anastomotic leak rates and death rates were lower in the CRAG group, and the lowest incidence of anastomotic leak was reported in the patients receiving CEA. Thus the reduced leak rate was associated more with the postoperative analgesia regimen than with the anesthetic technique. An increased incidence of wound dehiscence occurred with postoperative epidural morphine analgesia.