Continuous Epidural Blockade Arrests the Postoperative Decrease in Muscle Protein Fractional Synthetic Rate in Surgical Patients

Abstract

Epidural infusion of local anesthetics begun before surgery and continued during the first 48 h after operation significantly attenuates the decrease in the postabsorptive muscle protein synthesis rate associated with surgical injury. Effective block of nociceptive stimuli thus preserves tissue protein synthesis.