The epidural administration of various anesthetic and analgesic drugs gained increasing popularity following the discovery of opioid receptors in the spinal cord capable of producing potent analgesia, as reported by Yaksh and Rudy in 1976.<sup>69 Yaksh T.L., Rudy T.A. Analgesia medicated by a direct spinal action of narcotics Science 1976 ;  192 : 1357-1358

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup> The ability to produce neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia without dural puncture provides an attractive option to spinal anesthesia. With respect to infection risk and potential neurotoxicity of anesthetic and analgesic drug delivery, the epidural space is far more forgiving than the subarachnoid space. The popularity of epidural anesthesia and analgesia continues despite some shifts in the practice preferences for a variety of clinical situations. Several clinical developments in equipment, techniques, and drugs for epidural anesthesia and analgesia have been recently reported.