Experience of using epidural anesthesia in oncosurgery: A clinical case

Abstract

Relevance: Surgical intervention is the most radical method in the complex specific therapy of malignant neoplasms. Oncosurgical operations are among the most traumatic; the volume of surgical intervention depends on the stage of the tumor process and its prevalence, the presence of metastases, germination in neighboring tissues and organs, and concomitant diseases. Particular importance is attached to the anesthetic management of the perioperative period.

Regional anesthesia is practically not used for several reasons in oncosurgical reconstructive and plastic interventions on the abdominal organs. In choosing the method of anesthesia, the qualification of the anesthetist plays a role, especially when performing high epidural anesthesia, which is quite technically complicated. The emergence of highly effective anesthetics and high-quality sets for epidural anesthesia has significantly expanded the scope of this type of anesthesia in oncosurgical practice.

This study aimed to demonstrate the possibilities and advantages of epidural anesthesia in the perioperative period using the described clin
ical case as an example.

Methods: Patient N. was admitted to the clinic for surgical treatment for a malignant neoplasm of the transverse colon without clinical signs of obstruction of the lumen of the large intestine. She underwent laparotomy, subtotal colectomy with anastomosis, resection of the omentum, and lymph node dissection. Epidural anesthesia with catheterization of the epidural space and administration of ropivacaine and morphine was used as an anesthetic aid.

Results: Adequate pain relief, relaxation, the absence of clinically significant autonomic reactions in the intraoperative period, and adequate pain relief without narcotic analgesics in the postoperative periodwere achieved. The patient was activated on Day 3-5 after surgery. Subjectively, the patient emphasized the comfortable course of the perioperative period.

Conclusion: Thus, our experience in the use of regional (epidural) anesthesia in oncosurgical practice as an isolated method of anesthesia, subject to technically competent and accurate execution of the procedure, allows us to recommend it as a reasonable alternative or component of generally accepted traditional general anesthesia in order to reduce the risk of anesthesia, adequate and effective anesthesia in the perioperative period and optimization of economic and logistical costs in the postoperative period.