Key result
Thoracic epidural anesthesia increased red cell velocity in terminal arterioles compared to saline (1,215 vs 741 micrometer/s; P<0.001), indicating increased gut mucosal blood flow.
Why the study?
Does thoracic epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine improve ileal mucosal microvascular blood flow in anesthetized rats?
Population
19 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated rats equipped with epidural catheters
Comparison
Epidural infusion of 20 microliter of… vs Epidural infusion of normal saline (n=8)
Design
Preclinical
Authors
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Does not support clinical use; hypothesis-generating for epidural effects on gut perfusion, requiring human translation studies.
Does thoracic epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine improve ileal mucosal microvascular blood flow in anesthetized rats?
Absolute Event Rate: 1215% vs 741%
p-value: p=<0.001
Thoracic epidural anesthesia increases gut mucosal blood flow and reduces intermittent flow in the villus microcirculation despite decreased perfusion pressure in a rat model.
Sielenkämper et al. (2000) studied Anesthetized rats (n=19). Thoracic epidural anesthesia (bupivacaine 0.4%) vs. Normal saline was evaluated on Red cell velocity in terminal arterioles (p=<0.001). Thoracic epidural anesthesia increased red cell velocity in terminal arterioles compared to saline (1,215 vs 741 micrometer/s; P<0.001), indicating increased gut mucosal blood flow.
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