Key result
Epidural lignocaine reduces lower extremity free flap microcirculatory blood flow by ~25% versus baseline.
Why the study?
Does epidural anaesthesia alter microcirculatory blood flow in free flaps on the lower extremity in patients under general anaesthesia?
Population
21 patients undergoing reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity with free muscle, fasciocutaneous or…
Comparison
Epidural block induced by an injection of 2%… vs Pre-epidural state.
Design
Other
Follow-up
Immediate post-surgery
Authors
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May caution against epidural use in lower extremity free flaps; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Does epidural anaesthesia alter microcirculatory blood flow in free flaps on the lower extremity in patients under general anaesthesia?
Effect estimate: 20-30% decrease
p-value: p=<0.05
Epidural anaesthesia decreases microcirculatory blood flow in lower extremity free flaps, likely by diverting flow to normal intact tissues, challenging the hypothesis that it improves flap perfusion.
Erni et al. (1999) studied Reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity with free flaps (n=21). Epidural anaesthesia vs. Baseline (prior to epidural block) was evaluated on Microcirculatory blood flow in free flaps (20-30% decrease, p=<0.05). Epidural anaesthesia using 2% lignocaine-hydrochloride significantly decreased microcirculatory blood flow in lower extremity free flaps by 20-30% (P<0.05).
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