[Variations of blood flow during epidural analgesia measured by a non-invasive method, i.e. transcutaneous pulsed ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (author's transl)].

The present study aimed at appreciating the variations of femoral blood flow caused by epidural analgesia in women during delivery. In all cases the women lay supine, the cutaneous analgesia was below T 9. Bupivacaine at the average dose of 25 mg was used. Three preparations (bupivacaine 0.25 p. cent, bupivacaine 0.25 p. cent + adrenaline 1/200,000) were used. No significant variation in femoral blood flow was observed whether the solution injected contained adrenaline or not.