This study   was  performed  to  determine  and compare  the  onset

   time   of   epidural     anesthesia    between   lidocaine  -  sufentanil  and

   lidocaine  - bicarbonate.

          Eighty - one  patients  aged 14 - 65 years  who  underwent   surgical

   procedures   under  epidural  anesthesia  were  studied in the Hamadan 

   Medical Sciences University  Hospitals in 1998. This  study   was  a  double

   blind,clinical trial.The patients were devided randomly  to   three  groups

   (lidocain-plasebo ,lidocaine-sufentanil and lidocaine-bicarbonate).After

   performing the method , the obtained information were entered into the

   questionnaires .  Next , all data were analysed by using one way analysis

   of  variance in the statistical software EPI6.

         The cold sensory time(sympathetic block)in both groups of lidocaine-

   bicabonate and lidocaine - sufentanil (5.11min.) was shorter than that of

   the controlled group(10.22min.). Besides ,the pin  prick  loss  time (sensory

   block) in the lidocaine- bicarbonate(7.92 min.) and lidocaine- sufentanil

   (7.29min.)  groups   was  shorter  than  the  controlled  group (11.88 min. ).

   Duration  of  analgesia in  the lidocaine -  sufentanile’s  group  was  more

   than  the lidocaine  -  bicarbonate’s   and   lidocaine - placebo’s   group

   (350.3 min.versus 221.5 min.and 160.6 min.).The three groups didn’t   differ

   significantly with respect to systolic ,  diastolic and mean arterial pressure

   and heart rate. Among  the  narcotic  complications ,  the  incidences of

   pruritus was 3.7% , but other complications such as nausea, vomiting and

   respiratory depression were not abserved.

         Consequently  ,   sufentanil   can   be   used   in  epidural   anesthesia

   ,because  it  has   fast  onset  of   the  anesthesia  , prolonged duration of

   analgesis and  low incidence of its complications.