• F Gerheuser and A Roth.
• Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Zentralklinikum Augsburg, Stenglinstrasse 2, 86156 Augsburg, Deutschland. florian.gerheuser@klinikum-augsburg.de
• Anaesthesist. 2007 May 1;56(5):499-523; quiz 524-6.

AbstractIn epidural anaesthesia, the anaesthetist injects one or more drugs into the epidural space bordering on the spinal dura mater to achieve a "central" and/or "neuraxial" block. It is one of the earliest techniques in anaesthesia, originally performed exclusively with local anaesthetic agents. Adding other drugs and combining epidural with general anaesthesia or adapting the technique to the needs of children has extended the list of indications. Continuous epidural analgesia is an important tool in postoperative pain management. More and more often, the increasing proportion of patients who have comorbidities or are permanently taking medication that modulates the clotting system demands that the anaesthesiologist balance the individual risks and benefits before inducing epidural anaesthesia.

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