• Toshiya Shiga.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, 113, Tokyo, Japan.
• J Anesth. 1998 Mar 1; 12 (1): 7-12.

PurposeThe objective of this study was to examine the effect of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function assessed by transesophageal echocardiography under general anesthesia.MethodsSixteen patients were allocated to control (n=8) and TEA (n=8) groups. We administered 1% mepivacaine (8.9±1.2 ml) into the thoracic epidural space in the TEA group.ResultsThe concomitant decline of the left vertricular systolic functional parameters, such as end-systolic diameter and fractional shortening, was observed, whereas preload, as measured by end-diastolic diameter, and afterload, as measured by end-systolic wall stress, were unchanged. No significant alteration was observed in early peak velocity or deceleration rate. The deceleration time was independent of heart rate and was unchanged.ConclusionHigh TEA reduces fractional shortening without any changes in preload and afterload, indicating impairment of systolic function, but early peak velocity, deceleration rate, and deceleration time, which are the indices of diastolic function, are not changed during high TEA combined with general anesthesia.

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