Fig. 3.
Hemoglobin concentration assessed at baseline, after institution of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), and at the individual critical hemoglobin concentration (Hbcrit). The ropivacaine group (ROP, n = 9) is displayed by gray boxes, the saline group (SAL, n = 9) by white boxes. Beginning with a hemoglobin concentration of 7.7 ± 0.8 g/dl (ROP group) and 7.8 ± 0.6 g/dl (SAL group) at baseline, Hbcrit was met at 2.5 ± 0.6 g/dl in both groups. *P < 0.05 versus baseline. +P < 0.05 versus TEA.