Combined Spinal- Epidural Anesthesia in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by ventricular dilatation and impaired systolic cardiac function. Anesthetic management, of patients with cardiomyopathy with reduced systolic function, is challenging and may be associated with high mortality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of combined spinal epidural anesthesia (CSEA) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, underwent vascular surgery in the lower half of the body, in addition to assess the safety of this anesthetic technique in the early postoperative period.

Method: After approval by local research ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine, and informed written consent obtained from all patients, 24 patients having dilated cardiomyopathy, subjected to vascular surgery in the lower half of the body under CSEA. The effects of CSEA on hemodynamics; IBP, HR and CVP (measured at base line and then every 10 min), in addition to cardiac complications during the hospital stay period were studied.

Inclusion criteria

• 24 patients Cardiomyopathy DCM underwent infra-inguinal vascular surgery under the effect of combined spinal epidural technique were included in a prospective trial single center observational study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with significant fluid and electrolyte imbalance, major arrhythmias or heart failure or unstable angina, systolic blood pressure at rest < 100 mmHg, heart rate < 50, serum creatinine >2.0 mg /dl, and patients who required emergency surgery were excluded from the study.