Article

Thoracic Combined Spinal-Epidural (CSE) Anaesthesia

Published in: Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Volume 14 , issue 1 , 2008 , pages: 63–69

DOI: 10.1080/22201173.2008.10872524

Author(s): RA Lee Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Mechanical, Materials and Maritime Engineering, The Netherlands , AAJ Van Zundert Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy, The Netherlands , WA Visser Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, The Netherlands , LMA Lataster Department Anatomy & Embryology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, The Netherlands , PA Wieringa Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Mechanical, Materials and Maritime Engineering, The Netherlands

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Abstract

The experimental delivery of spinal anaesthetics to the desired heights in the body, even above the termination of the spinal cord (thoracic level), has been shown to be potentially very valuable. Since there is no blockade of the lower extremities, little caudal spread, a significantly larger portion of the body experiences no venal dilation, and may offer a compensatory buffer to adverse changes in blood pressure intra-operatively. Further, the dosing of the anaesthetic is exceedingly low, given the highly specific block to only certain nerve function along a section of the cord. Thirdly, the degree of muscle relaxation achievable without central or peripheral respiratory or circulatory depression is superior to that with general anaesthesia.

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