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Abstract Objective To compare the analgesic effect of intercostal nerve block (INB) with ropivacaine when given preventively or at the end of the operation in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods A total of 50 patients undergoing VATS were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the preventive analgesia group (PR group) were given INB with ropivacaine before the intrathoracic manipulation combined with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). The patients in the post-procedural block group (PO group) were administered INB with ropivacaine at the end of the operation combined with PCA. To evaluate the analgesic effect, postoperative pain was assessed with the visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and Prince Henry Pain Scale (PHPS) scale at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery. Results At 6 h and 12 h post-surgery, the VAS at rest and PHPS scores in the PR group were significantly lower than those in the PO group. There were no significant differences in pain scores between two groups at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery. Conclusion In patients undergoing VATS, preventive INB with ropivacaine provided a significantly better analgesic effect in the early postoperative period (at least through 12 h post-surgery) than did INB given at the end of surgery.
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Humans , Nerve Block , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Analgesia, Patient-Controlled , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted , Ropivacaine , Analgesics , Intercostal NervesABSTRACT
@#Objective To compare the pain relief and rehabilitation effect of intercostal nerve block and conventional postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. Methods China National Repository, Wanfang Database, VIP, China Biomedical Literature Database, Web of Science, Clinicaltrials.gov, Cochrane Library, EMbase and PubMed were searched from establishment of each database to 10 Febraray, 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of intercostal nerve block in thoracoscopic surgery were collected, and meta-analysis was conducted after data extraction and quality evaluation of the studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Results A total of 21 RCTs and one semi-randomized study were identified, including 1 542 patients. Performance bias was the main bias risk. Intercostal nerve block had a significant effect on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 12 h after surgery (MD=–1.45, 95%CI –1.88 to –1.02, P<0.000 01), VAS score at 24 h after surgery (MD=–1.28, 95%CI –1.67 to –0.89, P<0.000 01), and VAS score at 48 h after surgery significantly decreased (MD=–0.90, 95%CI –1.22 to –0.58, P<0.000 01). In exercise or cough state, VAS score at 24 h after surgery (MD=–2.40, 95%CI –2.66 to –2.14, P<0.000 01) and at 48 h after surgery decreased significantly (MD=–1.89, 95%CI –2.09 to –1.69, P<0.000 01). In the intercostal nerve block group, the number of compression of the intravenous analgesic automatic pump on the second day after surgery significantly reduced (SMD=–0.78, 95%CI –1.29 to –0.27, P=0.003). In addition to the analgesic pump, the amount of additional opioids significantly reduced (SMD=–2.05, 95%CI –3.65 to –0.45, P=0.01). Postoperative patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was reduced (SMD=–3.23, 95%CI –6.44 to –0.01, P=0.05). Patient satisfaction was significantly improved (RR=1.31, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.46, P<0.01). Chest tube indwelling time was significantly shortened (SMD=–0.64, 95%CI –0.84 to –0.45, P<0.001). The incidence of analgesia-related adverse reactions was significantly reduced (RR=0.43, 95%CI 0.33 to 0.56, P<0.000 01). Postoperative complications were significantly reduced (RR=0.28, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.44, P<0.000 01). Two studies showed that the length of hospital stay was significantly shortened in the intercostal nerve block group, which was statistically different (P≤0.05), and there was no statistical difference in one report. Conclusion The relief of acute postoperative pain and pain in the movement state is more prominent after intercostal nerve block. Intercostal nerve block is relatively safe and conforms to the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery, which can be extensively utilized in clinical practice.
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Background: Chest trauma is one of the serious injuries and also one of the leading causes of death from physical trauma. Current study is designed to study clinical profile, pattern of injuries, complications and treatment modality required in chest trauma management.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, a tertiary care hospital in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India in 246 patients primarily admitted for chest trauma from 1st March 2018 to 31st August 2019. All cases were managed in emergency department with history noted, clinical examination performed and initial management done as per ATLS guidelines. Definitive management done according to clinical and radiological investigations. Final outcome (death/discharge) was noted with discharged patients were followed until normal activity regained.Results: Male of 3rd-4th decade constituted most vulnerable group, with mean age of 38.56 years and male:female ratio of 5.31:1. Road traffic accident (RTA) was the commonest cause (71.14%), followed by assault (11.79%) and accidental fall (11.38%). Blunt force was the most common mechanism (93.09%). Rib fracture was present in 26.83%, lung contusion in 8.13% patients, followed by haemothorax (7.32%), hemopneumothorax (5.70%) and pneumothorax (3.25%). Conservative management suffices in most cases (86.59%), tube thoracostomy in 12.19%, thoracotomy in 1.22% cases. Patients with VAS score of 6 and above required intercostal nerve block (5.31%) or epidural analgesia (2.45%) for satisfactory pain relief. Pneumonia and atelectasis were common complications 2.03% each. Mortality rate was 1.22%. Average length of hospital stay was 4.6 days.Conclusions: Chest trauma commonly affects young males with RTA causing significant morbidity and mortality. Majority of patients can be treated conservatively.
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@#Objective To determine the effectiveness of continuous intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy. Methods From November 2017 to October 2018, 120 patients who received thoracotomy procedure in our hospital were collected, including 60 males and 60 females aged 40-77 (58.10±7.00) years. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups by digital table including a continuous intercostal nerve block group (group A, n=40), a single intercostal nerve block group (group B, n=40), and an epidural analgesia group (group C, n=40). All the groups received the same basic analgesia. The pain scores and rescue analgesic doses were compared. Results On postoperative day (POD) 0, all groups achieved effective pain control, and the visual analogue score was 2.02±0.39 points in the group A, 2.13±0.75 points in the group B and 2.03±0.69 points in the group C (P>0.05). On POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 (without basement analgesia), there was no significant difference between the group A and group C in the pain scores (2.08±0.28 points vs. 1.93±0.53 points, 3.20±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P>0.05), however, the difference between POD 0-2 and POD 3-4 in each group was stastically different (group A, 2.08±0.28 points vs. 3.20±0.53 points; group B, 2.42±0.73 points vs. 5.45±0.99 points; group C 1.93±0.53 points vs. 3.46±0.47 points, P<0.05). In terms of the rescue analgesic doses, there was no significant difference between the group A and group C (220.00±64.08 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P>0.05); it was larger in the group B than that in the group A and group C (343.33±119.56 mg vs. 220.00±64.08 mg; 343.33±119.56 mg vs. 225.38±78.85 mg, P<0.05). Conclusion Multimodal analgesia is an optimal choice in the initial stage after thoracotomy surgery. Continuous intercostal nerve block is an effective way to pain management in patients with thoracotomy.
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Introduction: Thoracic epidural analgesia has greatly improved the pain experience and its consequences and has been considered the ‘gold standard’ for pain management after thoracotomy. This view has recently been challenged by the use of paravertebral nerve blocks. Nevertheless, severe ipsilateral shoulder pain and the prevention of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome remain the most important challenges for post-thoracotomy pain management. Aim of the study: To compare paravertebral block and continuous intercostal nerve block after thoracotomy. Materials and methods: Fifty adult patients undergoing elective posterolateral thoracotomy were randomized to receive either a continuous intercostal nerve blockade or a paravertebral block. Opioid consumption and postoperative pain were assessed for 48 hours. Pulmonary function was assessed by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) recorded at 4 hours intervals. Results: With respect to the objective visual assessment (vas), both techniques were effective for post-thoracotomy pain. The average vas score at rest was 29±10 mm for paravertebral block and 31.5±11 mm for continuous intercostal nerve block. The average vas score on coughing was 36±14mm for the first one and 4 ±14 mm for the second group. Conclusion: Thoracic epidural analgesia or nerve blocks are so far considered as the best option but one needs to consider personnel and equipment resources available. A combination of local anesthetics along with opioids can be given to reduce the agony of the patient and early discharge from the hospital.
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To compare two methods of injecting ropivacaine as an intercostal nerve blocker, and for postoperative pain control after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in lung cancer patients. Methods: From August 2018 to November 2018, 60 patients who had undergone VATS with a diagnosis of lung cancer, were randomly assigned into two groups: control and test. After the surgery, the control group was injected with an intercostal nerve blocker (0.25% ropivacaine) via the inner thorax by the traditional method, and the test group was injected with ropivacaine via the outer thorax by an improved method. The pain scale was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Prince Henry Pain Scale (PHPS) at 12 h (T1), 24 h (T2), 48 h (T3), and 72 h (T4) after the surgery. The dosage of administered morphine and the adverse effects of ropivacaine after surgery were also evaluated. Results: Injecting ropivacaine to the intercostal nerve by means of both, outer and inner thoracic injection showed satisfied analgesia, as evaluated by VAS and PHPS scores, and there were no significant differences between the two methods at any time point of analysis (T1-T4, P>0.05). The dosage of administered morphine and the time with chest tube were similar (P>0.05) between the groups. However, there were a few cases of subpleural hemorrhage in the test group. Conclusions: Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine by means of both, outer and inner thoracic injection, showed satisfied analgesia, although, outer thoracic injection is more flexible with fewer complications.
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Objective To investigate the effect of intercostal nerve block combined with general anesthesia on hemodynamics in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Method From January 2014 to January 2016, 100 patients were selected and divided into control group and experimental group according to the principle of complete random grouping. The patients in control group received general anesthesia with intravenous induction and static-occlusion, and the patients in experimental group received intercostal nerve block compound general anesthesia. The changes of visual analogue pain scores (VAS) and hemodynamics were evaluated in both groups. Changes in immune function before and after treatment were compared. Hemodynamic parameters include heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2). Immune function parameters include serum T cell subsets content. Results The VAS scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group at different time points (P < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure and heart rate were significantly higher in the control group than those in the experimental group after the operation (P < 0.05). The CD4+, CD4+/CD8+levels in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Intercostal nerve block composite anesthesia can better control the thoracoscopic patient's cardiovascular response and reduce the immune function inhibition. It is worthy of clinical promotion.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction and postoperative analgesia situation after intercostal nerve block was applied on elderly patient received thoracic surgery.Methods: 105 elderly patients underwent thoracic surgeries were divided into observation group (35 patients received intercostal nerve block combined with general anesthesia), control A group (35 patients received epidural anesthesia combined with general anesthesia) and control B group (35 patients received routine general anesthesia). The cognitive function, postoperative pain, intraoperative mean artery pressure (MAP) and heart rate of the patients among different groups were respectively compared.Results: The cognitive function scores in postoperative 12h, 24h, 72h of observation group were significantly higher than that of control A group (t=20.917,t=27.780, t=74.081,P<0.05), respectively. And all of these data also were significantly higher than that of control B group (t=37.922,t=48.969,t=62.653,P<0.05), respectively. The differences of MAP, HR value between observation group and control A group were statistically significant (t=18.927,t=22.380,P<0.05), respectively. And the differences of them between observation group and control B group also were statistically significant (t=31.051, t=19.932, P<0.05), respectively. Besides, the differences of pain scores in postoperative 6h, 12h, 24h, 48h between observation group and control A group were not statistically significant, while all of pain scores of observation group were significantly lower than that of control B group (t=18.731,t=19.035, t=21.093,t=17.036;P<0.05).Conclusion:Intercostal nerve block combined with general anesthesia can ensure more stable intraoperative vital signs for elderly patients underwent thoracic surgeries, and it contributes to improve early cognitive function and possesses better postoperative analgesic effect for elderly patients.
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Objective To investigate the effect of different doses of dexmedetomidine combined with intercostal nerve block in regional adenomammectomy.Methods 112 patients receiving regional adenomammectomy and meeting criterions were selected from Oct.2013 to Oct.2016.And they were divided into control group and low,medium,and high dose group according to table of random number,with 28 cases in each group.Patients of the control group only received intercostal nerve block.Patients of low dose group received low dose of dexmedetomidine (0.7 μg/kg load dose and 0.25μg· kg-1·h-1 maintenance doses) combined with intercostal nerve block.Patients of medium dose group received medium dose of dexmedetomidine (0.7 μg/kg load dose and 0.5 μg·kg-1·h-1 maintenance doses) combined with intercostal nerve block.Patients of high dose group received high dose of dexmedetomidine (0.7 μg/kg load dose and 1 μg· kg-1·h-1 maintenance doses) combined with intercostal nerve block.Mean arterial pressure,heart rate,VAS score and sedation score of the four groups were detected and compared at T0,T1,T2,T3 and T4.Results The mean arterial pressure and heart rate of medium and high dose group were lower than those of the control group and low dose group at T1,T2,T3 (P＜0.05).The mean arterial pressure and heart rate of high dose group were lower than those in medium dose group at T1,T2,T3 (P＜0.05).VAS score of medium and high dose group were lower than those of the control group and low dose group (P＜0.05),while the difference was not statistically significant between medium and high dose group(P＞0.05).The sedation scores of low,medium and high dose groups were higher than those of the control group at T1,T2,T3 and T4 (P＜0.05),while the sedation score of high dose group were higher than those of low and medium dose groups at T1,T2,T3 and T4 (P＜0.05).Conclusion Medium and high dose of dexmedetomidine combined intercostal nerve block can effectively relieve pain for patients undergoing regional adenomammectomy,while high dose of dexmedetomidine is likely to cause bradycardia,hypotension and excessive sedation.Appropriate dosage should be chosen in clinical practice.
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@#Objective To analyze the outcome of fast track surgery after intercostal nerve block (INB) during thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae. Methods We recuited 76 patients who accepted thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae from February 2013 to March 2015. They were randomly divided into two groups: an intercostal nerve block and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (INB+IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (30 males, 8 females, with a mean age of 23.63±4.10 years) received INB intraoperatively and IPCA postoperatively, and a postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IPCA) group, in which 38 patients (33 males, 5 females, with a mean age of 24.93±6.34 years) only received IPCA postoperatively. Their general clinical data and the postoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Analgesia-associated side effects, rate of the pulmonary infection were observed. Expenses associated with analgesia during hospital were calculated. Results The score of VAS, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, fatigue and other side effects, pulmonary atelectasis and the infection rate in the INB+IPCA group were significantly lower than those in the IPCA group. Postoperative use of analgesic drugs was significantly less than that in the IPCA group. Medical expenses did not significantly increase. Conclusion INB+IPCA is beneficial for fast track surgery after thoracoscopic resection of lung bullae.
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Objective To investigate the influence of pure intercostal nerve block combined with hydromorphone hydrochlo-ride intravenous analgesia on the occurrence of postoperative cognitive function and analgesia in elder patients with thoracic surger-y.Methods Ninety-six ASA I?Ⅱ elder patients with elective thoracic operation were divided into intercostal nerve block group (A),intercostal nerve block combined with hydromorphone hydrochloride intravenous analgesia group (B)and hydromorphone hydrochloride intravenous analgesia group(C)according to the random number table method,32 cases in each group.The patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)with sufentanyl was postoperatively performed in all cases.When analgesia effect was poor, dezocine 0.1mg/kg was intravenously injected.The mean artery pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),respiratory rate(RR),visual ana-logue scale (VAS)score and mini mental state examination (MMSE)score were recorded at postoperative 2,6,24,48 h in 3 groups.Results The MMSE score in the group B was higher than that in the group A and C,the VAS score was lower than that in the group A and C,the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05).Postoperative MAP and HR in the group B were more sta-ble than those in the group A and C,the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05).RR in the group C was more fast and had smaller range than those in the group A and B,the difference was statistically significant(P <0.05).Conclusion Intercostal nerve block combined with hydromorphone hydrochloride intravenous analgesia can achieve better postoperative analgesic effect with sta-ble postoperative blood dynamics and low occurrence rate of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
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Objective To discuss the clinical effect of artificial pneumothorax combined with intercostal nerve block in alleviating chest pain occurring during and after percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for subpleural lung malignancy.Methods A total of 30 patients with subpleural lung malignancy were randomly and equally divided into group A (n=10),group B (n=10) and group C (n=10).The patients in group A received both artificial pneumothorax and intercostal nerve block before MWA.The patients in group B only received artificial pneumothorax before MWA,and the patients in group C only received intercostal nerve block before MWA.The degree of pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score during MWA,immediately after MWA and at 6 h,12 h and 24 h after WMA.The side effects after MWA were recorded.Results During MWA,no statistically significant differences in VAS scores existed between each other among the three groups (P=0.885).The VAS scores determined at 6 h,12 h and 24 h after MWA in group C were significantly increased (P=0.014,P=0.006 and P=0.006 respectively).No patient in group A and group B developed symptoms of chest tightness after artificial pneumothorax was performed.After treatment,a small amount of asymptomatic residual pneumothorax was still observed in 6 patients of group A and group B,which disappeared spontaneously in about one week.Another patient still showed massive pneumothorax even after thoracic gas suction,and the patient recovered after thoracic closed drainage for three days.No other serious complications related to artificial pneumothorax occurred.Conclusion Artificial pneumothorax combined with intercostal nerve block can effectively relieve the chest pain occurring during and after MWA in patients with subpleural lung malignancy,and clinically this technique is quite safe.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26:269-273)
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Background and purpose:Many patients may suffer from acute pain after radical mastectomy un-der general anesthesia. This article aimed to investigate the effect of intercostal nerve block coupled with general anes-thesia on analgesia after radical mastectomy for breast cancer.Methods:Ninety-six patients underwent modiifed radical mastectomy for breast cancer were randomized with random number into group C (intercostal nerve block coupled with general anesthesia) and group G (general anesthesia), with 48 patients in each group. Group C received intercostal nerve block by ultrasound before general anesthesia. Group G received only general anesthesia. The induction of general an-esthesia was the same between the two groups. During the surgery, 10 μg sufentanil was given to the patient if heart rate or blood pressure were 20% higher than baseline. After surgery, sufentanil was given if VAS score exceeded 0 point. The perioperative amount of sufentanil was recorded. VAS scores were recorded respectively on 2 (T1), 12 (T2) and 24 h (T3) after surgery. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was also observed.Results:Sufentanil amount used intra- and post- operation were signiifcantly lower in group C [(25.2±3.5) and (3.3±1.2) μg] than that in group G [(40.5±4.3) and (8.4±2.2) μg] (P<0.01). The VAS scores on 2, 12 and 24 h after surgery in group C(0.45±0.15,1.75±0.08 and 2.05±0.12), were signiifcantly lower than those in group G (4.32±0.21, 4.88±0.13 and 4.78±0.16) (P<0.01). The incidences of nausea and vomiting on 2 and 24 h after surgery in group C (6.25% and 16.66%) were signiifcantly lower than those in group G (20.8% and 41.66%). There was no adverse complication related with intercostal nerve block in group C.Conclusion:Intercostal nerve block coupled with general anesthesia plays an important role in preemptive analgesia for patients undergoing modiifed radical mastectomy for breast cancer, which may improve postoperative pain control and reduce the usage of opioids and incidence of nausea and vomiting. Intercostal nerve block under ultrasound is quite safe and effective for patients.
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The goal of cancer treatment is generally pain reduction and function recovery. However, drug therapy does not treat pain adequately in approximately 43% of patients, and the latter may have to undergo a nerve block or neurolysis. In the case reported here, a 42-year-old female patient with lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) developed paraplegia after receiving T8-10 and 11th intercostal nerve neurolysis and T9-10 interlaminar epidural steroid injections. An MRI results revealed extensive swelling of the spinal cord between the T4 spinal cord and conus medullaris, and T5, 7-11, and L1 bone metastasis. Although steroid therapy was administered, the paraplegia did not improve.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Conus Snail , Drug Therapy , Injections, Epidural , Intercostal Nerves , Lung Neoplasms , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neoplasm Metastasis , Nerve Block , Paraplegia , Recovery of Function , Spinal CordABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the reasonable and effective administration ofdexmedetomidine for thoracic surgery anesthesia.Methods Eighty ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients,aged 18-60 years old scheduled for elective thoracotomy were randomly assigned to 4 groups(each 20 patients).Group A:dexmedetomidine before anesthesia induction + bupivacaine before closed thorax cavity.Group B:dexmedetomidine before anesthesia induction + dexmedetomidine and bupivacaine before closed thorax cavity.Group C:0.9％ sodium chloride before anesthesia induction + bupivacaine before closed thorax cavity.Group D:0.9％ sodium chloride before anesthesia induction + dexmedetomidine and bupivacaine before closed thorax cavity.Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before infusing dexmedetomidine or 0.9％ sodium chloride (T0),after infusing dexmedetomidine or 0.9％ sodium chloride (T1),instant time after intubation (T2) and 3 min after intubation (T3),5 min after intubation (T4).The scores of visual analogue scale(VAS) and the consumption of analgesics were compared.Results There was no significant difference including gender,age,weight and operation time among four groups (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with T0,MAP and HR were significantly decreased at T1 in group A and group B (P ＜ 0.05),and were significantly increased at T2 in group C and group D (P＜ 0.05).Respectively compared with group A and group B,MAP and HR were significantly increased at T2,T3 in group C and group D (P ＜ 0.05).The scores of VAS in group B [(2.47 ± 1.43) scores] and group D [(2.00 ± 1.68) scores] were lower than those in group A [(4.78 ± 1.26) scores] and group C [(4.88 ± 1.62) scores] after operation 12 h.The times of using postoperative analgesics in group B [(0.6 ± 0.4) times] and group D [(0.8 ± 0.1) times] were significantly less than those in group A [(1.3 ± 0.5) times]and group C [(1.5 ± 0.4) times] (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Intravenous dexmedetomidine before anesthesia induction can control the effect of double-lumen endobronchial tube responses and make hemodynamics stable.Intercostal nerve block with 0.5 μ g/kg bupivacaine and 0.375％ dexmedetomidine can enhance the analgesia effect and prolong the analgesia time.
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Ketamine, a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist, provides analgesia and prevents chronic pain following thoracotomy. The study was aimed to assess the effect of intravenous low-dose ketamine on continuous intercostal nerve block analgesia following thoracotomy. The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical study, performed in a single university hospital. Sixty patients, undergoing elective lobectomy through an open posterolateral thoracotomy, were included. For postoperative pain, all patients received a continuous intercostal nerve block with bupivacaine plus intravenous paracetamol and ketoprofen. In addition, patients were randomized to have intravenous ketamine (0.1 mg/kg as a preincisional bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 0.05 mg/kg/h) in group 1 or intravenous placebo in group 2. Patients reporting a visual analog scale pain score at rest ≥40 mm received intravenous morphine sulfate as rescue analgesia. The following parameters were assessed every 6 hours for 3 postoperative days: Visual analog scale pain scores at rest and during coughing, requirement of rescue analgesia with morphine, Ramsay sedation scores and psychomimetic adverse effects. Both the groups were statistically comparable regarding visual analog scale pain scores at rest (P=0.75) and during coughing (P=0.70), number of morphine deliveries (P=0.17), cumulative dose of rescue morphine (P=0.2), sedation scores (P=0.4), and psychomimetic adverse effects (P=0.09). Intravenous low-dose ketamine, when combined with continuous intercostal nerve block, did not decrease acute pain scores and supplemental morphine consumption following thoracotomy.
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Adult , Aged , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Ketamine/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Nerve Block , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Prospective Studies , ThoracotomyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic pain after thoracotomy has been recently reproduced in a rat model that allows investigating the effect of potentially beneficial drugs that might reduce the incidence of allodynia or alleviate pain. Local anesthetics produce antinociception in normal animals and alleviate mechanical allodynia in animals with nerve injury although their mechanisms of action may differ in these situations. Our purpose of this study was to test whether the preoperative intercostal nerve block of bupivacaine could prevent the development of allodynia in a rat model of chronic postthoracotomy pain. METHODS: All male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and the right 4th and 5th ribs were exposed surgically. The pleura were opened between the ribs to which a retractor was placed and was opened 10 mm in width. Retraction was maintained for one hour. Total 1 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine was injected at the intercostal nerves before (n = 17) or after (n = 16) surgery. A control group (n = 25) that underwent rib retraction did not receive any drug. Rats were tested for mechanical allodynia using calibrated von Frey filaments applied around the incision site during the three weeks following surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of development of mechanical allodynia in the group that received intercostal injection with bupivacaine before surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative intercostal nerves block around the surgical incision before thoracotomy may decrease the incidence of postthoracotomy pain syndrome.
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Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Anesthetics, Local , Bupivacaine , Chronic Pain , Hyperalgesia , Incidence , Intercostal Nerves , Pleura , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Ribs , ThoracotomyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Augmentation mammoplasty is a procedure that expands the breast tissue and pectoral muscle by insertion of an implant. This procedure induce extreme postoperative pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether intercostal nerve block (ICNB) could reduce the pain after augmentation mammoplasty. METHODS: Eighty three patients, who underwent augmentation mammoplasty, at the M.D. Clinic between December 2005 and February 2006, were the cases of this study. We injected 0.25% ropivacaine (total 30ml per side) in the ICNB group (n=68) into the 3,4,5 and 6th intercostals spaces following induction of general anesthesia for surgery. The mean arterial pressures and heart rates were measured before and after subpectoral dissection. A numerical rating scale (NRS: 0=no pain, 10= most severe pain) was used to measure the pain postoperative 6, 24, 48 hours, respectively. We statistically compared the ICNB group with the control group (n=15) with using the Mann-Whitney Rank Sum test. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressures and heart rates were more stable during subpectoral dissection in the ICNB group than in the control group (p= 0.142 and p= 0.037). The NRSs were lower throughout the 48 hours of the postoperative period in the ICNB group than in the control group (p<0.001 at 6hr, p=0.017 at 24hr, p=0.054 at 48hr). CONCLUSION: ICNB induced stable vital sign during subpectoral dissection and excellent postoperative pain control during 48 hours postoperatively for those patients undergoing augmentation mammoplasty.
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Female , Humans , Anesthesia, General , Arterial Pressure , Breast , Heart Rate , Intercostal Nerves , Mammaplasty , Pain, Postoperative , Postoperative Period , Vital SignsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Patients usually complain of severe postoperative pain at the rib cartilage recession site after total ear reconstruction surgery. We evaluated the postoperative analgesic effects of an intercostal nerve block (ICNB) in patients undergoing total ear reconstruction. METHODS: We injected normal saline (2 ml/rib space) in the control group (n = 15), and 0.75% ropivacaine (2 ml/rib space) in the ICNB group (n = 15) respectively into the 6th, 7th and 8th intercostal spaces following the induction of general anesthesia for surgery. Mean arterial pressures and heart rates were measured pre-ICNB, post-ICNB, pre-surgical incision, 10, 30 and 60 minutes after incision. Numerical rating scales (NRS: 0 = no pain, 10 = most severe pain) were measured at a postoperative 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours by NRS-resting and NRS-coughing, respectively. RESULTS: Mean arterial pressures and heart rates were significantly more stable (P < 0.05) in the ICNB group at 10, 30 and 60 min after incision, than in the control group. NRS were low in all of the ICNB group throughout the postoperative period versus the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ICNB induce stable vital signs during rib recession and has excellent postoperative analgesic effects. Thus, we recommend periop-ICNB for total ear reconstruction surgery for the management of anesthesia and postop-analgesia.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anesthesia , Anesthesia, General , Arterial Pressure , Cartilage , Ear , Heart Rate , Intercostal Nerves , Pain, Postoperative , Postoperative Period , Ribs , Vital Signs , Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Being a subjective symptom, an objective evaluation of pain and severity is important in the diagnosis and detection of treatment outcome. This study examined the usefulness of infrared thermography for the objective evaluation of pain, irrespective of the original disease. METHODS: Patients with unilateral pain who underwent nerve block were randomly selected. Infrared thermography was performed and subjective pain site and severity were assessed before and after nerve block. RESULTS: The temperature difference between the pain site and the contralateral site was significantly correlated with subjective pain severity before and after block (P < 0.01). Improvements in VAS were correlated with temperature difference decrement between both sides after nerve block (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Infrared thermal imaging can demonstrate subjective pain objectively. Thermal differences between the pain sites and the contralateral sites are an indicator of pain scale in a patient with ipsilateral pain. Moreover the thermal difference may be a useful means of determining outcome.