Epidural stimulation for lower abdominal operations

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the efficacy of epidural stimulation of the dorsal column of spinal cord as a method for pain relief fifty two patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery were studied. Two acupuncture needles, one at 2-3 lumbar intervertebral space and the other in the caudal space, were placed in epidural space. They were stimulated by acupuncture stimulator. The frequency and voltage were set according to the patient's maximum tolerance. Out of 52 patients 23 had comfortable surgical procedure without any analgesic drugs, 16 required adjuvant drugs like diazepam or morphine. In 13 cases this technique totally failed and general anaesthesia had to be administered. We found that epidural stimulation provides segmental analgesia which is helpful in minor surgical procedures