Intercostal catheter analgesia is more efficient vs. intercostal nerve blockade for post-thoracotomy pain relief

A pain after thoracotomy may result in a postoperative hypoventilation and lead to atelectases and pneumonia. This study was aimed to compare two analgesic regimens after posterolateral thoracotomy. 80 patients (40-70 years) undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to intercostal catheter analgesia (g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCollegium antropologicum Vol. 31; no. 2; p. 561
Main Authors Kristek, Jozo, Kvolik, Slavica, Sakić, Kata, Has, Borislav, Prlić, Lidija
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Croatia 01.06.2007
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Analgesia - methods
Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage
Bupivacaine - administration & dosage
Catheterization
Female
Humans
Intercostal Nerves
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Block - methods
Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy
Ribs
Thoracotomy
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Summary:A pain after thoracotomy may result in a postoperative hypoventilation and lead to atelectases and pneumonia. This study was aimed to compare two analgesic regimens after posterolateral thoracotomy. 80 patients (40-70 years) undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to intercostal catheter analgesia (group A, n = 40) and intercostal nerve block (group B, n = 40). Patients in group A were given 20 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine injections twice a day by intercostal catheter. Intercostal nerve blockade was performed using 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine. Intercostal nerve in thoracotomy wound, nerves below and above thoracotomy wound was also injected. PaO2, PaCO2, FVC, FEV1 and visual analog pain scale (VAS) were obtained preoperatively, 24, 48 and 72 hours after operation. Postoperative complications were recorded at the patient discharge. Differences between groups were calculated using Mann-Whitney, KW test and chi square test. The arterial blood gas analyses did not show statistically significant change in any group and time according to the baseline values. FVC and FEV1 decreased significantly in both groups at first postoperative day according to baseline measurements. Patients in B group had significantly higher FEV1 values in the third postoperative day (73.05 +/- 11.25 in A vs. 83.50 +/- 9.17 in B group, p < 0.05). Intercostal catheter analgesia resulted in significantly lower postoperative VAS scores and reduced opioid requirement as compared to intercostal nerve blockade. No differences in the postoperative complications were observed between groups.
ISSN:0350-6134