Evaluation of thoracic epidural analgesia in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery - a prospective randomized trial.

Introduction: Most recent studies tend to confirm the beneficial effect of thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in cardiac surgery.

Aim: To assess whether intensive care unit TEA has an influence on the perioperative course following low-risk coronary artery surgery.

Material And Methods: This prospective, randomized trial was performed in patients scheduled for low-risk coronary artery surgery.