Deep Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block for Intraoperative Pain Control in Cardiac Surgical Patients for Sternotomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Sternotomy pain is common after cardiac surgery. The deep parasternal intercostal plane (DPIP) block is a novel technique that provides analgesia to the anterior chest wall. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of bilateral DPIP blocks on intraoperative pain control in cardiac surgery. DESIGN: This is a double-blinded, prospective randomized controlled trial (Oct 2020-Dec 2022). SETTINGS: This study was conducted in a single institution, which is an academic university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six elective cardiac surgical patients with median sternotomy were recruited. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly divided into DPIP or control group. Either 20ml 0.25% levobupivacaine or 0.9% normal saline was injected for the DPIP under ultrasound guidance after induction of general anaesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was intraoperative opioids consumption and hemodynamic changes at sternotomy. Secondary outcomes included postoperative morphine consumption, postoperative pain and time to tracheal extubation. Intraoperative opioids requirement was reduced from a median (IQR) intravenous morphine equivalence of 21.4mg (13.8-24.3mg) in control group to 9.5mg (7.3-11.2mg) in the DPIP group (P<0.001). Hemodynamic parameters were more stable in DPIP group at sternotomy, as evidenced by lower percentage increase in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure from baseline. No difference was observed in time to tracheal extubation, postoperative morphine consumption, postoperative pain score and spirometry. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral DPIP block provides effective intraoperative analgesia and opioid-sparing. It may be included as part of the multimodal analgesia for enhanced recovery in cardiac surgery.

Incidence of chest wall paresthesia after video-assisted thoracic surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVE: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is an established treatment for recurrent or complicated primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). However, a proportion of patients still complains of chronic pain or discomfort after VATS pleurodesis. We aimed to investigate if paresthesia is a distinct component of the post-operative discomfort in patients receiving VATS for PSP. METHODS: Telephone interviews were conducted with 52 patients who had received VATS pleurodesis for PSP in our institute during a defined 24 month period. A standardized questionnaire was used to identify paresthetic discomforts which the patients themselves could distinguish from their wound pain. Responses were obtained from 51 patients (42 male, 9 female) with a mean age of 24.1 years (range 14-63 years), giving a response rate of 98.0%. RESULTS: With a median observation time of 19 months (range 2-24 months), 27 patients (52.9%) reported experiencing paresthesia as a post-operative complication distinct from their wound pain. The most commonly described characteristics of the paresthesia were 'pins and needles' (37.0%), 'numbness' (25.9%) or a sensation of abnormal 'swelling' in the chest wall (11.1%). Although only two of the affected patients (7.4%) described the paresthesia as 'severe', consequent functional disturbances in daily life were noted by seven patients (25.9%), and 11 patients (40.7%) actively sought medical or alternative, holistic therapies to relieve the paresthesia. Eight (21.0%) of the 38 patients followed-up for over 12 months after surgery still experienced the paresthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Although it should not detract from the proven advantages of VATS, paresthesia in the chest wall represents a distinct but previously overlooked post-VATS complication. It is a potential source of significant post-operative morbidity, and may run a chronic course in some patients. Further study is warranted to elucidate its mechanisms and optimum management.