[Clinical experience in the use of epidural blockade in complex anesthesia in cardiac surgical interventions].

A total of 326 patients were operated on the heart under total and combined epidural anesthesia. Multicomponent total anesthesia in combination with epidural blocking is indicated for patients with coronary disease, aortal and mitral valve failure, arterial and pulmonary hypertension. The dose of fentanyl is decreased 2.98 times, duration of forced ventilation of the lungs 2-fold, and the incidence of cardiovascular and pulmonary complications is reduced in patients subjected to cardiosurgical interventions under total anesthesia in combination with epidural blocking.