Observations on significant hemodynamic changes caused by a high concentration of epidurally administered ropivacaine: correlation and prediction study of stroke volume variation and central venous pressure in thoracic epidural anesthesia

Background Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) exacerbates hypotension due to peripheral vasodilator effects following the use of general anesthetics. This study aimed to compare the hemodynamic changes caused by three different concentrations of epidural ropivacaine and to evaluate the performance of the stroke-volume variation (SVV) and central venous pressure (CVP) during TEA with general anesthesia.