[Epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine 0.75% for pelviscopic intervention. Clinical results of a 6-month study].

In a retrospective study clinical experience with epidural Bupivacaine 0.75% for laparoscopy is presented; the main interest of the study is focused on the relaxation of the abdominal wall musculature as expressed by compliance: volume of CO2-insufflation/pressure. Data of 55 patients were collected (= Group A) divided into 3 subgroups according to dosage: subgroup I = 15.0 ml = 112.5 mg (n = 12), II = 17.5 ml = 131.25 mg (n = 16), III = 20.0 ml = 150.0 mg (n = 27). These 55 patients are compared with two other groups of patients: group B = epidural anaesthesia with etidocaine 1.5% (n = 14) and group C = general anaesthesia with pancuronium as muscle relaxant 0.08 mg/kg (n = 7). Within group A the 3 subgroups do not show much difference except for one significant difference (p less than 0.05): between subgroup I and III concerning the upper limits of analgesia (1.5 segments: T 7 vs T 5/6), in the lowest dose-group the patients having the lowest weight (p less than 0.05). There was interdependence only with respect to two items: spread of analgesia (upper limit) depending on total dose (p less than 0.01) and on age (p less than 0.05), as well as dose/segment depending on age (p less than 0.01); despite statistical significance the correlation was rather weak.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)