[Peridural anesthesia and cesarean section. Apropos of 117 cases]

One hundred and seventeen caesarean sections performed under epidural anesthesia are reported. Following localization by air myelography, catheterization of the epidural space was performed in all cases. The estimated level of injection was L 1.76 +/- 0.82. The local anesthetic used was: lignocaine 2 p. 100 with adrenalin 1/160,000 (N = 13) in a dose of 388 mg +/- 81.4; bupivacaine 0.5 p. 100 with adrenalin 1/2000,000 (N = 77) in a dose of 106.6 mg +/- 20; or a mixture of bupivacaine 0.5 p. 100 with adrenalin 1/200,000 and lignocaine 2 p. 100 without adrenalin (N = 27) at doses of 91.0 mg +/- 23.9 and 238 mg +/- 53.4 respectively. The failure rate was 5.97 p. 100 and the operative conditions were satisfactory in 91.5 p. 100 of cases. Apgar scores were greater than 7 in 87 p. 100 of cases at one minute and 99 p. 100 of cases at 5 minutes. The proportion of minor incidents was 30 p. 100, and of complications 3.5 p. 100. Their prevention and treatment and the anesthetic protocol are discussed.