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Epidural anesthesia in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
B K Temeck1, P W Schafer, W Y Park
1Department of Surgery, Veterans Adminstration Medical Center, Washington, DC 20422.
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Combining epidural anesthesia with light general anesthesia offers a safe and effective approach for thoracic surgeries. This technique resulted in low mortality and morbidity rates in high-risk patients.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Epidural anesthesia is recognized for its positive impact on surgical outcomes.
- A combined epidural and general anesthesia technique has been utilized for thoracic procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined epidural and light general anesthesia for thoracic surgery.
- To assess postoperative outcomes, including extubation times, mortality, and morbidity.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 90 consecutive patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
- Data collected from January 1984 to November 1987 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Main Results:
- Immediate or early postoperative extubation (within 3 hours) was achieved in 94% of patients.
- Low mortality (2%) and morbidity (3%) rates were observed.
- Prolonged extubation occurred in only 1% of the patient cohort.
Conclusions:
- The combined epidural and light general anesthesia technique is a viable option for thoracic surgery.
- This approach provides satisfactory anesthesia with favorable safety profiles in high-risk surgical populations.