[High epidural anesthesia as a component of anesthetic support for cardiosurgical interventions in infants]

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine whether it was expedient to include epidural anesthesia into a complex of anesthetic support of surgical correction of ventricular septal defect in infants. This was a prospective, nonrandomized, monocenter case-control study. Seventy-nine infants met the inclusion criteria. A control group included 41 patients in whom total intravenous anesthesia was based on the infusion of propofol and fentanyl; a study comprised 38 patients in whom anesthetic support was potentiated by high prolonged epidural anesthesia. In the study group patients, the total dosage of anesthetics and the duration of inotropic support decreased intraoperatively and there was a reduction in the duration of postoperative artificial ventilation.