The role of epidural analgesia and anesthesia in surgical outcomes.

Recent clinical evidence suggests that EAA used in combination with general anesthesia has a beneficial effect on surgical outcome compared with general anesthesia and systemic analgesia. Those complications with clear evidence of a reduced incidence in prospective, randomized studies are shown in Table 2. The benefits are greatest in high-risk patients who receive thoracic epidural blockade with local anesthetic agents. Besides reducing the incidence of certain major complications, the adjunctive use of EAA reduces ICU care, hastens recovery, and has cost savings.