Repetitive paravertebral nerve block using a catheter technique for pain relief in post-herpetic neuralgia

• Published in: British journal of anaesthesia : BJA Vol. 96; no. 3; pp. 381 - 383
• Main Authors: Naja, Z.M., Maaliki, H, Al-Tannir, M.A., El-Rajab, M, Ziade, F, Zeidan, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2006; Oxford University Press; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Aged; anaesthetics local; anaesthetics local, bupivacaine; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; bupivacaine; Bupivacaine - administration & dosage; catheter; clonidine; complications; complications, post-herpetic neuralgia, paravertebral; Drug Administration Schedule; Electric Stimulation; equipment, catheter; Herpes Zoster - complications; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Nerve Block - methods; Neuralgia, Postherpetic - therapy; paravertebral; post-herpetic neuralgia; premedication; premedication, clonidine; premedication, clonidine; complications, post-herpetic neuralgia, paravertebral; equipment, catheter; anaesthetics local, bupivacaine; Imidazole derivatives; bupivacaine; complications; Agonist; anaesthetics local; Catheter; Imidazoline receptor; catheter; premedication; Bupivacaine; Pain; Anesthesia; Complication; Clonidine; Aesthetics; Neurological disorder; Anilide; post-herpetic neuralgia; α2-Adrenergic receptor; Nervous system diseases; Herpes; Infection; Local anesthetic; Case study; Viral disease; paravertebral; equipment; Carboxamide; Antihypertensive agent; Organic amide; α-Adrenergic receptor agonist; Neuralgia
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/ael007

We described in this report a case of post-herpetic neuralgia refractory to medical therapy that was successfully treated with repetitive injections of local aesthetic mixture (bupivacaine 0.5% 19 ml and clonidine 150 µg ml−1 1 ml) every 48 h for 3 weeks using a paravertebral catheter inserted at T2–T3 level.