[Analgesic effects of the lumbar epidural block with the catheter placed caudad]

In 31 cases of trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P), the lumbar epidural block was carried out with the catheter placed caudad. In 23 of 31 cases, it was found that the catheters were inserted caudad with coiling, but not so distant from the puncture site. In 3 cases, the catheters were placed caudad beyond a vertebral segment, in 2 cases cephalad, in another 2 cases passed through the intervertebral foramen, and in the other case the position undetectable. However, in 24 of 31 cases, adequate analgesia was obtained by epidural block only. Hypotension during the operation was seen only in 4 cases. In 3 cases, the catheters were successfully placed caudad beyond a vertebral segment and the levels of analgesia 10 minutes after the injection were T11-T10 to S3-S5. In the anesthetic management of TUR-P, it is necessary to obtain complete analgesia in sacral segments and to avoid high thoracic epidural block. We concluded that this method was useful for the anesthetic management of TUR-P.