Abstract In a prospective study of 50 patients undergoing cholecystectomy epidural analgesia was found to be more effective than pethidine in achieving adequate postoperative analgesia. Pain was assessed using the visual linear analogue. In patients receiving epidural analgesia there was a 16 per cent reduction in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary infection compared with the control group. The small but significant number of complications arising and the time involved during anaesthesia may preclude the method from wider adoption, but it is suggested that epidural analgesia should be considered in high risk patients.