Continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia for breast augmentation.

Thirty consecutive cases were scheduled for submuscular breast augmentation under continuous thoracic epidural anesthesia. The epidural tube was placed into the intervertebral space between the third and fourth thoracic vertebrae. An average of 15 ml of 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine was used as a primary anesthetic agent. There were no significant changes in respiratory function; only a transient elevation of blood pressure and increased heart rate were noted. All cases were successfully anesthetized, except one case (3%) who had a partial analgesic effect and needed to combine general anesthesia. One patient needed a single dose of ephedrine, 20 mg, to treat hypotension. Perioperative complications included transient shivering (33%), stuffy nose (20%), nausea (7%), and shortness of breath (13%). These symptoms were alleviated after reassurance or light sedation and oxygen inhalation. Immediate postoperative pain of the operative site was effectively controlled by injection of local anesthetics through the epidural tube. This study revealed that thoracic epidural anesthesia was feasible, effective, and even better than conventional alternative anesthetic techniques for breast augmentation.