Left ventricular functions are not impaired after lumbar epidural anaesthesia in young children

We studied the haemodynamic and cardiovascular effects of epidural anaesthesia with plain bupivacaine 0.75 ml.kg-1 in 13 unpremedicated ASA 1 children using measurements of heart rate, blood pressure and M-mode echocardiography. Under general anaesthesia, M-mode echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function in each patient was performed at four points (after general anaesthesia, point A; 5 min, 10 min and 25 min after epidural anaesthesia, point B; point C; and point D, respectively). Results were compared between point A and B, A and C, A and D, B and C, B and D, C and D. HR decreased significantly at 10 min (point C) and 25 min (point D) and MBP decreased at 5 min (point B) and 10 min (point D) compared to point A. No other M-mode cardiographic indices were changed at any point. Epidural anaesthesia using 0.25% bupivacaine 0.75 ml.kg-1 did not affect LV function in young children.