Lung Function under High Thoracic Segmental Epidural Anesthesia with Ropivacaine or Bupivacaine in Patients with Severe Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Undergoing Breast Surgery

Despite sympathetic blockade, sTEA does not increase airway obstruction and evokes only a small decrease in FEV1 as a sign of mild respiratory motor blockade with no difference between ropivacaine and bupivacaine. Therefore, sTEA can be used in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma undergoing chest wall surgery as an alternative technique to general anesthesia.