Abstract

The effect of thoracic epidural bupivacaine 0.75%, 9 ml, on early (<500 ms) somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) during electrical stimulation of the T10 and L1 dermatomes was examined in ten patients.

Spread of analgesia (pinprick) was T3.7 ± 0.5 to L2.5 ± 1 (mean ± SEM). Peak-to-peak amplitudes of the T10 SEPs were reduced ( p < 0.05) while an insignificant reduction was found in L1 stimulated potentials. SEPs were abolished in four and two patients at the T10 and L1 levels, respectively. The latency of the early SEP components (0, P1-3, N1-3) increased ( p < 0.05) at T10 but was not significant at L1 except for N₂ and N₃. Sensory threshold increased significantly in both stimulation areas during blockade. In conclusion, thoracic epidural administration of 9 ml of bupivacaine 0.75% does not provide total afferent somatic blockade despite sensory analgesia to pinprick.