A case is reported of an uneventful continuous extradural block in spite of unrecognized dural perforation. Although the perforation was recognized later during the block, the dura was probably pierced during the insertion of the catheter and only later the terminal hole came to lie in the subarachnoid space. Consequently both extradural and subarachnoid spread of the injected local anaesthetic...

We have assessed the effect of combining extradural bupivacaine and fentanyl in 60 orthopaedic patients who received 0.125% bupivacaine (bupivacaine group), fentanyl 5 micrograms ml-1 (fentanyl group), or 0.125% bupivacaine combined with fentanyl 5 micrograms ml-1 (combined group), delivered by patient-controlled extradural analgesia for 24 h via a lumbar extradural catheter. Adding bupivacaine...

We have determined if thoracic extradural block before surgical incision for thoracotomy produces pre-emptive analgesia. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 45 patients (ASA II-III) undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy for lung resection were randomized to one of three groups: group 1 received 0.5% bupivacaine and adrenaline 1/200,000 (B+E) 8 ml through a thoracic extra...