Objective of the study was to estimate the effects of apidural anesthesia on bowel function after lower abdominal surgery. A randomized controlled cl!nical trial of 62 patients undergoing gynecological surgery were divided randomly into 2 groups. Group 1 (EA, epidural anesthesia): postoperative pain control was performed by epidural catheter perfusion with fentanyl-bupivacaine combination. Group 2 (PCA, placebo): patient control analgesia with morphine was used postoperatively. Laryngeal mask was inserted for all patients under general anesthesia. VAS (at rest and movement) was controlled under 4 in both groups. The results showed that EA shortened the duration of postoperative ileus compared to PCA including bowel sounds, fart and early - oral feeding: 19.22 +/- 10.2 vs 34.63 +/- 15.54h
19.03 +/- 10.67 vs. 39.4 +/- 16.15h and 25.47 +/- 9.3 vs. 39.03 +/- 13.9h (p 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, epidural anesthesia shortened significantly the duration of postoperative ileus compared to PCA using morphine in patients with gynecological surgery.