Aging involves a progressive loss of functional reserve in all organ systems, to variable extend. Moreover, perioperative morbidity becomes more frequent in the elderly with steep increases after the age of 75. The elderly are more sensitive to anesthetic agents and generally require smaller doses for the same clinical effect, and drug action is usually prolonged. In the study, a 78-year-old man with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a cardiac history underwent a right colectomy with a combination of general and epidural anesthesia. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the beneficial effects of epidural anesthesia when it acts in combination with general anesthesia in elderly patients.