Background: Thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) has a well-known effect on neurohormonal
response. Attenuation of stress response by post-operative epidural analgesia has shown beneficial
effects such as lower pain scores and less immunological alterations.
Objectives: Investigation of the combined effects of TEA and protective lung ventilation on proinflammatory
cytokines and patients’ outcome after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.
Study Design: A randomized controlled study.
Setting: Academic medical center.
Methods: Thirty patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II were
randomly allocated into 2 groups: G1 (n = 15) patients received general anesthesia and were
mechanically ventilated with 9 mL/kg during 2 lung ventilations, reduced to 5 mL/kg and 5cm H2O
positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during one lung ventilation (OLV) or GII) (n = 15) patients
received TEA and the same general anesthesia and mechanical ventilation used in G1. Assessment
parameters included hemodynamics, pain severity, total analgesic consumption, and measurement
of interleukins (IL) (IL-6 and IL-8) at baseline time after anesthetic induction (TBaseline,); at the end of
the abdominal stage of the operation (TAbdo,); 15 minutes after initiation and at the end of OLV (TOLV
15) and (TOLV End) respectively; one and 20 hours after the end of the surgical procedure (TPostop1 and
TPostop20), respectively, and patient’s outcome also recorded.
Results: There was a significant reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and pulse rate
in GII during the intraoperative period, at Tabdo, TOLV15, and TOLV End (P < 0.05). The mean of systolic
blood pressure (SBP) values were significantly lower in GII over all 3 post-operative days (P = 0.001),
and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) showed a significant reduction in GII for 16 hours
post-operatively (P = 0.001). The mean of heart rate values showed a significant reduction in GII
over all 3 post-operative days in comparison to GI (P = 0.001). The mean resting and dynamic VAS
scores were significantly reduced in GII at all time periods studied in comparison to G1 (P = 0.001).
The daily PCA morphine consumption was markedly decreased in GII compared to GI in the first 3
days post-operatively (P = 0.001). There were significant reductions in blood level of IL-6 and IL-8 in
GII compared to G1 over the entire study period (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in
post-operative adverse effects between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The duration of stay in PACU was
significantly decreased in GII (10 ± 2 days) compared to GI (15 ± 3 days) (P = 0.001).
Limitations: This study is limited by its sample size.
Conclusion: Our study concluded that TEA reduced the systemic pro-inflammatory response
and provided optimal post-operative pain relief. Although there were no significant differences in
adverse events, there was a trend towards improved outcome. Further clinical studies with larger
numbers of patients are required.