COMPARISON OF GENERAL ANESTHESIA AND THORACIC EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA IN DIAGNOSTIC THORACOSCOPY

Better clinical outcomes are observed in patients who undergo thoracic
procedures under thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA). This study aimed to compare the outcome of
diagnostic thoracoscopy between patients with General anaesthesia (GA) and TEA.
Materials & Methods: In this randomized prospective study 30 candidates of diagnostic thoracoscopy
underwent either GA (n=15) or TEA (m=15). Pre-, intra-, and post-operational vital signs and O2
saturation, pre- and post-operational parameters of arterial blood gas (ABG), and post-operational
pain, need of analgesics, complications, hospital stay and mortality rate were documented and
compared between two groups.
Results: Vital signs and ABG parameters were comparable between the two groups. Although there
was better condition in the TEA group, the mean post-operational pain, dose of analgesics and hospital
stay were comparable between the two groups statistically. There was no case with intra-operational
agitation, change to general anesthesia, complications, need for intensive care unit admission, or
mortality.
Conclusion: In candidates of diagnostic thoracoscopy, TEA is at least equal to GA in terms of intraoperational
vital signs and parameters of ABG. TEA is superior to GA regarding post-operative pain
and hospital stay, but this predominance does not reach a statistically significant level.