Permeability of Dura Mater to Epidural Procaine in Dogs

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Abstract
In order to use epidural anesthesia as a method for producing selective peripheral and reversible deafferentation of the spinal cord in dogs it was necessary to study its site of action and to develop criteria for determining block. Investigation showed that the primary cortical response to peripheral nerve stimulation could be used as an accurate index of sensory block under these conditions. However, the dura was found to be sufficiently permeable to 2-3% epidural procaine to permit contamination of the subarachnoid space with concns. (0.3-0.8 mg./cc.) having a direct effect on the induced and "spontaneous" oscillating potentials of the spinal cord. These changes in electrical activity suggest that low concns. of subarachnoid procaine act directly on the spinal cord itself as well as on spinal rootlets.

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