BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effect of lumbar flexion on the
extent of the epidural block during lumbar epidural anesthesia. METHODS: The epidural
catheter was introduced at the L3-4 interspace with the patient in the lateral decubitus
position with the surgical side down. After administering a test drug (3 mL of 2% lidocaine
and 15 μg of epinephrine), the patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 groups: Group F
(n= 16, lumbar spine flexed) and Group N (n= 17, lumbar spine in the neutral position). In …