Effect of epidural saline washout on regression of sensory and motor block after epidural anesthesia in elderly patients / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of epidural saline washout on regression of sensory and motor block after epidural anesthesia in elderly patients.Methods A total of 70 males with ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ who were subjected lumbar epidural anesthesia with 10 ml of 1.73% bicarbonate-lidocaine and fentanyl 50 μg (1 ml).At the end of transurethral surgery,the washout group (35 cases) received an epidural bolus of 20 ml saline while the control group(35 cases) did not,extracted the epidural catheter after 10 minutes.Results Mean times of 3-dermatomal sensory regression for pinpric, 1-grade of motor block, and the rate of 1 h motor block were significantly shorter in the washout group than those in the control group [(24.6 ± 15.9) min vs(32.8 ± 16.7) min, (32.7 ± 13.4) min vs(47.9 ± 22.6) min,5 cases (14.3%) vs 14 cases (40.0%)](P < 0.05 or < 0.01 ).There was no difference in pain-killer utilization, postoperative pain scores no more than 3 scores and side effects between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion It suggests that epidural washout facihtates regression of both sensory and motor block following epidural anesthesia without reducing the postoperative analgesic benefit.