Epidural analgesia and anesthesia

Epidural drug administration is a technique that allows analgesic agents to be administered in close proximity to their site of action. This technique provides profound, long-lasting analgesia with minimal adverse effects bec ause lower drug doses are generally used compared with systemic administrat ion. Local anesthetics placed epidurally can produce complete desensitizati on and muscle relaxation to the kind end. The technique requires minimal eq uipment and is easily learned. Local anesthetic agents, opioids, and their combination can provide moderate to excellent intraoperative analgesia and up to 24 hours of postoperative analgesia.