Objective: To evaluate the quality of epidural anaesthesia and occurrence of adverse reactions of levobupivacaine 0.5% for operation of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. Design: clinical study. Setting: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, St. Ann’s University Hospital, Brno. Material and methods: 30 randomly selected patients undergoing operation of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. After oral premedication a peripheral venous line was inserted and crystalloids (Ringer solution) were administered.ECG,arterial blood pressure and pulse oximetry were used for monitoring. After detection of the epidural space levobupivacaine 0.5% was administered, 1 ml/segment to a 150 cm patient. For each additional 5 cm of height of the patient the dose of levobupivacaine was increased by 0.1 ml/segment. During surgery a small doses of benzodiazepins were administered. Time intervals to the onset of the sensory block and its duration were measured. The grade of motor block was assessed using the Bromage scale. Changes of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and SpO2 were recorded. Results: 14.8 ml of levobupivacaine 0.5% were used on average. Sensory block occurred at 16.8 min and lasted 306 min. The Bromage scale was 0 in all patients but one who achieved the score of 1. Decrease of MAP ≥ 

        Key words: levobupivacaine – epidural anaesthesia – herniation of the lumbar intervertebral disc