[Place of peridural anesthesia in aorto-iliac surgery. Preliminary comparative study apropos of 32 patients]

Two groups of patients were studied: Twelve retroperitoneal iliac, and 20 abdominal aortic surgery with aortic clamping and bypass graft. Anesthesia was: Pure thoracic epidural T10-T11 for all iliac and 3 aortic surgery. Epidural thoracic plus light general anesthesia for 12 aortic surgery. Classic balanced anesthesia for 5 patients only. Rate of injection of anesthetic mixture and pressure measurement in epidural space are described.

Hemodynamic changes during surgery are less in the epidural group. Post operative respiratory assistance was necessary only in the general anesthesia group, and respiratory care easier in the epidural group. Post operative peristalsis was obvious the first post operative day after epidural anesthesia, the fourth day after general anesthesia.