Does Level of Sensory Block by Epidural Anesthesia Affect the Degree of Sedation?

Background: Epidural anesthesia has been shown to have a direct sedative effect, and to markedly reduce the hypnotic requirement of intravenous anesthetics. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the level of sensory block by epidural anesthesia is related with the degree of sedation, and to the hypnotic requirement of propofol. In addition, we tested whether bispectral index (BIS) monitoring can quantify the sedative effects of epidural anesthesia. Methods: Thirty two patients scheduled for elective upper abdominal or lower extremity surgery were allocated into two groups. 2% lidocaine 15 ml was administered through an epidural catheter at the level (group T, n = 16) or at the level (group L, n = 16). Observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S) and BIS were evaluated 20 min after the epidural injection. Hypnotic doses of propofol were then determined by evaluating the loss of open eyes in response to a verbal command as an end point while propofol was administered by target controlled infusion (target effect concentration 5/ml, induction time 3 min). At the time of induction of hypnosis, the target effect concentration and BIS were recorded. Results: The average level of sensory block was up to T3 in group T, and up to T11 in group L. Compared with the group L, more decreases were noticed in group T in terms of the hypnotic dose of propofol (1.13 0.31 mg/kg vs. 1.67 0.36 mg/kg; P = 0.03). A decrease in the OAA/S scale from 5 to 4 was more frequently noticed in group T than in group L (93.7% vs. 12.5%, P 7 2.8 vs. 82.6 2.2; P