Federico Raveglia1, Alessandro Rizzi2, Andrea Leporati2, Piero Di Mauro3, Ugo Cioffi4, Alessandro Baisi2. 1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, A.O. San Paolo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: federico.raveglia@ao-sanpaolo.it. 2. Department of Thoracic Surgery, A.O. San Paolo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 3. Intensive Care Unit, A.O. San Paolo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 4. IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Pain control after thoracotomy prevents postsurgical complications and improves respiratory function. The gold standard for post-thoracotomy analgesia is the epidural catheter. The aim of this study was to compare it with a new technique that involves placement of a catheter in the paravertebral space at the end of surgery under a surgeon's direct vision. METHODS:From November 2011 to June 2012, 52 patients were randomized into 2 groups depending on catheter placement: an epidural catheter for group A and a paravertebral catheter for group B. At 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery, the following parameters were recorded: (1) pain control using the patient's completion of a visual analog scale module, (2) respiratory function using forced expiratory volume in 1 second and ambient air saturation, and (3) blood cortisol values as an index of systemic reaction to pain. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P < .05) were found in favor of group B for both cough and rest pain control (P = .002 and .002, respectively) and respiratory function in terms of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and ambient air saturation levels (P = .023 and .001, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in blood cortisol trends between the 2 groups (P > .05). Collateral effects such as vomiting, nausea, low pressure, or urinary retention were observed only in group A. No collateral effects were recorded in the paravertebral group. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, drugs administered through a paravertebral catheter are very effective. Moreover, it does not present contraindications to its positioning or collateral effects. More studies are necessary to confirm data we collected.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Pain control after thoracotomy prevents postsurgical complications and improves respiratory function. The gold standard for post-thoracotomy analgesia is the epidural catheter. The aim of this study was to compare it with a new technique that involves placement of a catheter in the paravertebral space at the end of surgery under a surgeon's direct vision. METHODS: From November 2011 to June 2012, 52 patients were randomized into 2 groups depending on catheter placement: an epidural catheter for group A and a paravertebral catheter for group B. At 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery, the following parameters were recorded: (1) pain control using the patient's completion of a visual analog scale module, (2) respiratory function using forced expiratory volume in 1 second and ambient air saturation, and (3) blood cortisol values as an index of systemic reaction to pain. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (P < .05) were found in favor of group B for both cough and rest pain control (P = .002 and .002, respectively) and respiratory function in terms of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and ambient air saturation levels (P = .023 and .001, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in blood cortisol trends between the 2 groups (P > .05). Collateral effects such as vomiting, nausea, low pressure, or urinary retention were observed only in group A. No collateral effects were recorded in the paravertebral group. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, drugs administered through a paravertebral catheter are very effective. Moreover, it does not present contraindications to its positioning or collateral effects. More studies are necessary to confirm data we collected.
Authors: J Defosse; M Schieren; A Böhmer; V von Dossow; T Loop; F Wappler; M U Gerbershagen Journal: Anaesthesist Date: 2016-05-31 Impact factor: 1.041