A comparative study of cardiovascular effects of general anesthesia and combined anesthesia of general anesthesia and thoracic epidural blockade with ropivacaine

AIM: To make a comparative study of cardiovascular effect of general anesthesia and combined anesthesia of general anesthesia and thoracic epidural blockade with ropivacaine. METHODS: 40 patients scheduled for elective whole gastrectomy with ASA Ⅰ~Ⅱ, which were randomly divided into GA (general anesthesia) group ( n =20) and CGA (combined general anesthesia) group ( n =20), received general anesthesia with tracheal intubation and combined anesthesia of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation and thoracic epidural blockade with ropivacaine. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate during the period of anesthesia induction, operation and awake were recorded. RESULTS: ①Changes of systolic blood pressure and heart rate during operation in CGA group were smaller than in GA group (123±14 mm Hg vs 132±17 mm Hg and 78±10/min vs 85±10 min -1 respectively, P 0.01). ② Blood pressure and heart rate changes to intubation and awake were smaller in CGA group than in GA group ( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined anesthesia of general anesthesia and thoracic epidural blockade with ropivacaine when applied to whole gastrectomy could maintain more stable hemodynamics compared with general anesthesia, especially suitable to surgical patients having or being predisposing to have myocardial ischemia.