[Temperature-dependent effects of lidocaine-CO2 in peridural anesthesia]

Lidocaine CO2, used for anaesthesia in 26 gynaecological and urological patients, was injected into the epidural space at two temperatures -20 degrees C and 36 degrees C. We found that the higher temperature resulted in a faster onset of blockade, a longer duration of action, and a greater degree of motor blockade. We found, also, with the warmed solution a higher spread of analgesia, which could enable a reduction to be made in the volume necessary for satisfactory anaesthesia.