• Shuang Wu, Shi-ying Fu, Feng-qi Liu, Lan-feng Wang, and Ren-hai Qu.
• Department of Cardiology, First Clinical College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China.
• Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2007 Jul 3; 87 (25): 1752-4.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (HTEA) on chronic heart failure (CHF) and its safety.Methods117 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) of NYHA class II - IV and with the LVEF < or = 45%, 90 males and 27 females, aged 45 - 81, were Randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (n = 54, treated with the routine medication) and HTEA group (n = 63, administrated epidurally with 0.5% lidocaine 3 - 5 ml every two hours from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday via an epidural catheter for one month in addition to the routine treatment). Echocardiography was performed before and after the treatment to examine the cardiac structure and left ventricular systolic function. The plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) was examined before and after the treatment.ResultsThe clinical symptoms and signs of the HTEA group were improved markedly. The total effective rate was 95.2% in the HTEA group, significantly higher than in the control group (85.2%, P < 0.05). Echocardiographic parameters showed that the diameters of ventricles and atrium decreased by 3 - 5 mm in the HTEA group. The left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) of the HTEA group reduced from (337 +/- 132) ml before treatment to 274 ml +/- 109 ml after treatment, and the left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV) of the HTEA group reduced from (215 +/- 99) ml before treatment to (147 +/- 73) ml after treatment (both P < or = 0.001). The regurgitation area of mitral valve of the HTEA group reduced from (6.6 +/- 3.7) cm(2) before treatment to (4.3 +/- 2.7) cm(2) after treatment, and the regurgitation area of tricuspid valve of the HTEA group reduced from (5.4 +/- 3.2) cm(2) before treatment to (3.3 +/- 2.3) cm(2) after treatment (both P < 0.01). No changes were observed in the E/A ratio in both groups. The BNP level fell from (678 +/- 521) ng/L to (237 +/- 225) ng/L in the HTEA group (P < or = 0.05). In the HTEA group, one patient died because of deterioration of cardiac function. HTEA was well tolerated and caused lower incidence of adverse events.ConclusionsHTEA obviously improves the heart function of the patients with CHS secondary to ICM. Consequently, HTEA is effective and safe in CHF patients with favorable tolerance.

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