Sabita Jiwnani1, Priya Ranganathan2, Vijaya Patil2, Vandana Agarwal2, George Karimundackal1, C S Pramesh3. 1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. 2. Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. 3. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: prameshcs@tmc.gov.in.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Post-thoracotomy pain leads to patient discomfort, pulmonary complications, and increased analgesic use. Intercostal nerve injury during thoracotomy or its entrapment during closure can contribute to post-thoracotomy pain. We hypothesized that a modified technique of posterolateral thoracotomy and closure, preserving the intercostal neurovascular bundle, would reduce acute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain. METHODS: We randomized 90 patients undergoingposterolateral thoracotomy for pulmonary resection at a tertiary level oncology center to standard posterolateral (control arm) or modified nerve-sparing thoracotomy. All patients received morphine via patient-controlled analgesia pumps. The primary outcome was the worst postoperative pain score in the first 3 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes included the average pain score and analgesic requirements in the first 3 postoperative days and the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between the groups in acute or chronic post-thoracotomy measured by the numeric rating scale. There was no difference seen in the worst (mean) postoperative pain scores (3.71 vs 3.83, difference 0.12; 99% confidence interval [CI], -0.7 to +0.9; P = .7), average (mean) pain scores in the first 3 postoperative days (1.77 vs 1.85, difference 0.08; 99% CI, -0.4 to +0.6; P = .69), mean consumption of morphine (mg/kg) (1.45 vs 1.40, difference -0.05; 99% CI, -0.4 to +0.3; P = .73), or incidence of chronic postoperative pain (37.8% vs 40%, difference 4.9%; 99% CI, -22.8 to +30.7%; P = .73). CONCLUSIONS: The modified nerve-sparing thoracotomy technique does not reduce post-thoracotomy pain compared with standard posterolateral thoracotomy.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: Post-thoracotomy pain leads to patient discomfort, pulmonary complications, and increased analgesic use. Intercostal nerve injury during thoracotomy or its entrapment during closure can contribute to post-thoracotomy pain. We hypothesized that a modified technique of posterolateral thoracotomy and closure, preserving the intercostal neurovascular bundle, would reduce acute and chronic post-thoracotomy pain. METHODS: We randomized 90 patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy for pulmonary resection at a tertiary level oncology center to standard posterolateral (control arm) or modified nerve-sparing thoracotomy. All patients received morphine via patient-controlled analgesia pumps. The primary outcome was the worst postoperative pain score in the first 3 postoperative days. Secondary outcomes included the average pain score and analgesic requirements in the first 3 postoperative days and the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen between the groups in acute or chronic post-thoracotomy measured by the numeric rating scale. There was no difference seen in the worst (mean) postoperative pain scores (3.71 vs 3.83, difference 0.12; 99% confidence interval [CI], -0.7 to +0.9; P = .7), average (mean) pain scores in the first 3 postoperative days (1.77 vs 1.85, difference 0.08; 99% CI, -0.4 to +0.6; P = .69), mean consumption of morphine (mg/kg) (1.45 vs 1.40, difference -0.05; 99% CI, -0.4 to +0.3; P = .73), or incidence of chronic postoperative pain (37.8% vs 40%, difference 4.9%; 99% CI, -22.8 to +30.7%; P = .73). CONCLUSIONS: The modified nerve-sparing thoracotomy technique does not reduce post-thoracotomy pain compared with standard posterolateral thoracotomy.
Authors: J Maloney; C Wie; S Pew; S Covington; M Maita; R Kozinn; M Sabin; J Freeman; M Kraus; N Strand Journal: Curr Pain Headache Rep Date: 2022-07-11