Impact of High Epidural Block on Left Ventricular Myocardial Function after Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery

Objective. To improve the outcomes of surgical treatment of coronary heart disease, by using high epidural block on the basis of evaluation of myocardial diastolic function in the preoperative and early postoperative periods. Materials and methods. 61 patients with coronary heart disease underwent coronary bypass surgery. According to the methods of analgesia, the patients were divided into 2 groups. A study group included 30 patients who had undergone high epidural block in the early postoperative period. A control group comprised 31 patients, wherein the conventional method for analgesia was applied through the parenteral administration of narcotic analgesics. Follow-up EchoCG was made, by examining the parameters of transmitral flow. The clinical course of a postoperative period and the length of stay in intensive care units were estimated. Results. Baseline diastolic dysfunction was detected in practically all patients. In the early postoperative period, the study group showed a significantly better myocardial diastolic function during high epidural block. In the control group, there was no improvement of the parameters characterizing left ventricular diastolic function. These patients longer stayed in a specialized intensive care unit. Conclusion. The postoperative employment of epidural block results in improved left ventricular diastolic function.