title: [Hypotensive epidural anesthesia in thoracic surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated effectiveness of hypotensive epidural anesthesia in decreasing blood loss, operation and extubation time, opiates use and stay in intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. Right (n=16) or left (n=42) pneumectomy was performed for the study patients. We used the hypotensive anesthesia induced by thoracic epidural anesthesia for the group T (n=29/50%) and normotensive anesthesia for the group K (n=29/50%). The epidural catheter was introduced into the epidural space at the level Th4-5. Arterial pressure was reduced using bupivacaine into epidural space. In the group T median arterial pressure was about 50-60 mmHg. For the group K we used only general anesthesia and median arterial pressure was 80-120 mmHg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average intra-operative blood loss was 534+/-198 ml in the group T and 1287+/-380 ml in the group K (p<0.001). Post-operative blood loss was the same in both groups. The average operation time was 10% shorter in the group T (p=0.078). Fentanyl use in the T group was 203+/-91 microg and 1266+/-601 microg in the K group (p<0.001). Patients in the T group were safely extubated after 66+/-17 min (p<0.001) and discharged from intensive care unit after 2+/-1.1 days (p<0.05). The patients in the group K were extubated after 138+/-37 min and discharged from intensive care unit after 3.27+/-1.3 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypotensive epidural anesthesia is an effective method to decrease blood loss and blood transfusions in thoracic surgery. It creates better conditions for surgery and reduces stay in intensive care unit. Also there were no serious cardiac, neurological and renal intra-operative and post-operative complications that could be conditioned by the use of hypotension.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, Lithuania. renatas@loc.lt
authors.forename: Renatas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tikuisis
authors.forename: Povilas
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miliauskas
authors.forename: Aleksas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zurauskas
authors.forename: Saulius
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cicenas
authors.forename: Rimantas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eidukevicius
authors.forename: Algirdas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackevicius
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007023:Hypotension, Controlled; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005283:Fentanyl; D002045:Bupivacaine