[Improvement of epidural anesthesia in reconstructive surgery of the aorta in Leriche's syndrome].

Fifty-six patients subjected to aortofemoral bilateral shunting under prolonged epidural anesthesia are examined. Swan-Gans catheter was used to evaluate central and pulmonary hemodynamics. Ganglionic blocking with pentamine for taxiphylaxis was carried out in 31 patients prior to catheterization of the epidural space. Epidural anesthesia with ganglional blocking is associated with reduced vasodilation and hypotension and attenuates the hemodynamic reactions during clamping and unclamping of the aorta, thus decreasing the incidence of intra- and postoperative complications.