ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic urologic surgery including transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) requires adequate sacral analgesia for insertion of resectoscope. But epidurally administered local anesthetic does not produce anesthetic effects uniformly. Failure to completely block S1 during epidural anesthesia because of the large size of nerve root has been noted. The purpose of this study to compare the relation between catheter direction and sensory anesthesia. METHODS: Thirty patients scheduled for endoscopic urologic surgery were enrolled. The epidural catheter was inserted at L3-4 using a standard 18 gauge Tuohy needle. In group A (n=15), the Tuohy needle with bevel pointed in a cephalad direction during catheter insertion. In group B (n=15), it pointed caudally. And the catheter was introduced 3 cm into the epidural space. After test dose, 2% lidocaine 5 cc, 0.5% bupivacaine 5 cc and 2% lidocaine 3 cc were administered with fractionate dose through it. The extent of the sensory anesthesia to loss of cold sensation and pin prick test was measured every 5minute for 30 minutes. RESULTS: Analgesia spread to loss of cold sensation and pin prick test was no significant statistical difference between the two groups. In 15 minutes after injection of surgical dose, complete blockade in L5, S1 dermatome was present in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our results conclude that epidural catheter direction is not significantly influence the epidural anesthetic spread including sacral area in continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia in elderly patients.