Abstract:【Objective】 To investigate the effects of thoracic epidural anesthesia on the gastric submucosal perfusion and metabolism during pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. 【Methods】 Twenty-six patients were randomly allocated to general anesthesia (group G, n =13) or general anesthesia combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia (group E, n =13). MAP, HR, PETCO2, and automated air tonometric variables were monitored before pneumoperitoneum, 30 min, 60 min during the pneumoperitoneum and 30 min after the end of the pneumoperitoneum. Gastric intramucosal pH and gastric inramucosal-arterial PCO2 gradient (PCO2gap) were calculated according to Henderson-Hasselbach equation. 【Results】 Compared with the baseline, the PgCO2 and PCO2gap increased significantly after abdominal pneumatic inflation and remained increased after surgery; and pHi decreased after pneumoperitoneum; There are significant difference between E group and G group in pHi and PCO2gap 60 min after pneumoperitoneum. HR, MAP were increased significantly in group G, but not in group E, and significant difference was found between two groups after pneumoperitoneum. There were no significant difference in PHa, PaCO2, PETCO2, BE, HCO3- and lactic acid after pneumoperitoneum between the two groups. 【Conclusion】 Pneumoperitoneum induces gastric submucosal hypoperfusion and that TEA can attenuate this effect. General anesthesia combined with thoracic epidural anesthesia is an ideal technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.