title: [Regional anaesthesia and organ protection--the role of thoracic epidural anaesthesia].
abstract: Epidural anaesthesia results in a significant reduction of postoperative pain, opioid requirement and opioid related side effects. Additionally a reduction of duration of postoperative ileus and pulmonary complication has been shown, but influence on cardiac morbidity remains contradictory. Effects on mortality and long term outcome after tumor surgery is still a topic of intensive research. Positive effects of epidural anaesthesia should be intensively used in terms of intensive physiotherapy and postoperative mobilisation as well as early enteral nutrition to further improve outcome of the patients.
authors.affiliation: gottschalk.andre@gmx.de
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
mesh_terms: D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004434:Early Ambulation; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000517:prevention & control; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate