BACKGROUND: A study was done to determine if there is any difference in the quality of anesthesia and time to reach maximum anesthesia between the induction of lumbar epidural anesthesia in the sitting and supine position in young male patients undergoing appendectomy. METHODS: We randomly divided 30 patients to 2 groups. An epidural catheter was inserted at L2~3 interspace. In group 1, with the patient sitting, 3 ml of 1% lidocaine with 5mcg/ml epinephrine was injected as a test dose via the epidural catheter, and then 3 minutes later, 0.5% bupivacaine 30 ml was given through the same catheter. After maintaining sitting position for 5 minutes, the patient changed to a supine position and the quality of anesthesia was assessed at 3-minute intervals for 30 minutes. In group 2, after the epidural catheter was inserted at the sitting position, the patient changed to a supine position immediately. Remaining procedures were the same. RESULTS: The two groups showed no difference in maximum cephalad spread of anesthesia and motor block. CONCLUSIONS: The position of the patient during induction of epidural anesthesia has no effect on the cephalad sensory and motor block.