Effects of Thoracic Epidural Analgesia in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Open Heart Surgery

A thoracic epidural catheter is routinely placed in patients undergoing open heart surgery in our hospital, at least 1 hour before heparin administration during the operation. After standard monitoring (ECG, SpO2, NIBP) is applied to the patients in the operating room, sedoanalgesia is provided with 1-3mg of midazolam and 50-100mcg of fentanyl. Then, by providing sterilization conditions, an epidural catheter is inserted through the T5-T6 interval with Tuohy needle. After confirming the location of the epidural catheter, 25mg / 10ml bupivacaine is administered as a bolus and then 3ml / hour bupivacaine infusion is started from the solution prepared as 3mg / ml and continues until the 48th postoperative hour. On the postoperative 2nd day, the catheter is removed 10-12 hours after LMWH administration and 2-4 hours after UFH, as recommended by the guidelines, paying attention to the anticoagulant administration times applied to the patients.