Epidural washout with high volumes of saline to accelerate recovery from epidural anaesthesia

Background: Prolonged postoperative blockade can follow neuraxial blocks fo r short surgical procedures. We investigated whether washout with a high vo lume of saline through an epidural catheter could provide a faster recovery after epidural anaesthesia. Methods: Thirty patients were randomly assigned to a control group (no wash out), to group 2x (epidural washout with twice the volume of 2% mepivacaine ) and group 4x (epidural washout with four times that volume). Results: Recovery times from sensory blockade at L2 were 151 +/- 24,122 +/- 29 and 116 +/- 24 min for control, 2x and 4x groups respectively. Signific ant differences were found in both saline groups when compared with control group, but not between group 2x and group 4x. No differences were found co ncerning motor blockade. One patient in group 4x demonstrated signs of intr acranial hypertension. Mepivacaine plasma concentrations were increased by saline washout in group 4x. Conclusions: Epidural washout with a high volume of saline can not be recom mended since no clinically significant reduction in the recovery time can b e achieved without risk.