Isoflurane Requirements During Combined General/Epidural Anesthesia for Major Abdominal Surgery

Abstract

In patients undergoing colon resection under combined anesthesia, isoflurane requirements were assessed by changes in blood pressure or bispectral index. Epidural bupivacaine at concentrations of 0.125% or 0.0625% (each with 2 mg/mL of fentanyl) induced the same sparing of isoflurane (35%). The smaller dose produced less hypotension and should be favored.