Abstract

BACKGROUND
Epidural block is widly used for anesthesia or analgesia, so many researches has been done in the field of cardiovascular system. And we reported the effects of epidural block on renal function in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy with general anesthesia. In this research I evaluated the effect of epidural anesthesia on renal function in patients undergoing subtotal gastrectomy with general anesthesia. The earlier was in lumbar level and the later was in thoracic level. METHODS: We studied 15 patient who were in ASA 1 or 2. The epidural catheter was inserted via 17 gauge Tuohy needle through the T10-T11 intervertebral space of the patients before general anesthesia. Anesthesia for all the patients were maintained with isoflurane, nitrous oxide and oxygen. We measured urine output and hemodynamic profiles such as mean arterial pressure, pulse, CVP, cardiac output during 2 hours of general anesthesia period. And then we injected 10ml of 0.15% bupivacaine to the epidural space and measured the same parameters as those of general anesthesia period during another 2 hours of epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia. We also compared urine output and renal function (creatinine clearance, Na clearance, fractional excretion of Na and free water clearance) between each of the two periods. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure and pulse were lower after epidural injection than before (p<0.05), but Cardiac output and CVP were not significantly different between two periods. Renal function data were not significantly different between the two periods.
CONCLUSIONS
Renal function was maintained during sympathetic block by thoracic epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia.

• Keywords: Kidney function;Subtotal gastrectomy;Thoracic epidural;