The Benefit and Risk of Combined Epidural and General Anesthesia for Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery, is a modern surgical technique that allows surgeons to perform operations using small incisions instead of the larger incisions required for open surgery. Combined epidural and general anesthesia for laparoscopic surgery is an anesthesia technique that merges the benefits of both general and epidural anesthesia to achieve improved patient outcomes. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to assess the benefit and risk of combined epidural and general anesthesia for laparoscopic surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Anesthesiology, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during the period from January 2021 to January 2023. Total 300 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were in this study. All the patients were divided into two groups: Group A consist of 150 patients operated with only general anesthesia and Group B consist of 150 patients operated with combined epidural and general anesthesia. Result: In this study, no demographic characteristics were statistically significant (P>0.05). The operation time was significantly (p≤ 0.05) higher in group B compared to group A. The duration of anesthesia was also significantly (p≤ 0.05) higher in group B compared to group A. For systolic arterial pressure, no significant differences were found between the two groups at any time point. Similarly, for heart rate, only the difference after anesthesia was significant, with a p-value of 0.0457. For diastolic arterial pressure, the only significant difference was found after anesthesia, with a p-value of <0.0001. Group A had a mean VAS score of 2.8 (SD±1.5), while Group B had a mean VAS score of 1.5 (SD±1.4). The pain score was statistically (p<0.0001) lower in group B. Group A had a mean recovery time of 21.5 minutes with a SD of 8.2, and Group B had a mean recovery time of 15.5 minutes with a SD of 6.8. The recovery ......