Final answer:
Adding sodium bicarbonate to the local anesthetic solution can alkalinize epidural local anesthetic and improve its efficacy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alkalinization of epidural local anesthetic can be achieved by adding sodium bicarbonate to the local anesthetic solution. Sodium bicarbonate is a basic compound that raises the pH of the solution, making it more alkaline. This can help reduce pain and improve the efficacy of the local anesthetic.
For example, if a local anesthetic solution has a pH of 5, adding sodium bicarbonate can increase the pH to around 7, which is more alkaline.