Continuous intercostal nerve blockade for pain relief following cholecystectomy.

Continuous intercostal nerve blockade was used to provide analgesia after cholecystectomy. The blockade was maintained by the insertion of a single extradural catheter into an appropriate intercostal space and by "topping-up" with local anaesthetic on demand. Of the patients studied, 92%, and 76%, required no additional analgesia in the first 24 h and first 48 h following operation, respectively. Measurements of peak flow were obtained on the 1st day after operation. A mean improvement of 37% on pre- "top-up" peak flows, was found. It is suggested that continuous intercostal analgesia is a a safe, reliable and powerful form of analgesia which may improve respiratory function after cholecystectomy.