A randomized control trial to compare thoracic epidural with intercostal block plus intravenous morphine infusion for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing elective thoracotomy.

Objective: The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of Thoracic epidural with Intercostal block plus intravenous morphine infusion for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing elective thoracotomy. Methodology and Design: This study is designed as a prospective randomized clinical trial. Setting: Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India. Participants: Patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery through posterolateral thoracotomy. Intervention: In Group A (TEA) patients epidural catheter was inserted at T5-6 level before induction of GA and analgesia was activated using 0.25% of bupivacaine towards the end of the surgery, before chest closure and infusion of 0.1% bupivacaine with 2 mcg/ml of fentanyl was started. In Group B (ICN) patients, an intercostal blockade of the 5 intercostal spaces was performed by the surgeon just before chest closure using 0.25% bupivacaine and a continuous intravenous morphine infusion of 0.015-0.02 mg/kg/hr was started. Measurements: Assessment of resting and dynamic pain intensity using Numerical rating scale and sedation using Ramsay sedation scale was done and recorded at 1, 6,12,18,24 hours during the first postoperative day. The other parameters that were measured include side effects and the requirement of rescue analgesia. Results: Resting and Dynamic (NRS) pain scores were less in Group A (TEA) than Group B (ICN). In the first 12 hours, the differences in both the resting (P = 0.0505) and dynamic (P = 0.0307) pain scores were statistically significant. By the end of the first postoperative day, sedation scores were more or less similar in both groups. The incidence of side effects and requirement of rescue analgesia were found to be similar in both the groups. Conclusion: To summarize, though the results show a slightly better quality of analgesia with the thoracic epidural, the difference being clinically insignificant intercostal blockade could be considered as a valid alternative.

Ultrasound-guided Modified Parasternal Intercostal Nerve Block: Role of Preemptive Analgesic Adjunct for Mitigating Poststernotomy Pain.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To assess the quality and effectiveness of postoperative pain relief after fast-tracking tracheal extubation in cardiac surgery intensive care unit, effected by a single-shot modified parasternal intercostal nerve block compared with routine in-hospital analgesic protocol, when administered before sternotomy. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blinded interventional study. SETTING: Single-center tertiary teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized into two groups. Patients in the parasternal intercostal block group (PIB) (n = 45) received ultrasound-guided modified parasternal intercostal nerve block with 0.5% levobupivacaine after anesthesia induction at 2nd-6th intercostal space along postinduction using standardized anesthesia drugs with routine postoperative hospital analgesic protocol with intravenous morphine. Patients in the group following routine hospital analgesia protocol (HAP) (n = 45) served as controls, with standardized anesthesia drugs and routine hospital postoperative analgesic protocol with intravenous morphine. The primary study outcome aimed to evaluate pain at rest and when doing deep breathing exercises with spirometry, coughing expectorations using a 11-point numerical rating scale. RESULTS: The postoperative pain score at rest and during breathing exercises was compared between the two groups at different time durations (15 min after extubation and every 4th hourly for 24 h). Patients in the PIB group had significantly lower pain scores and better quality of analgesia during the entire study period at rest and during breathing exercise (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the side effect profile and need of rescue analgesics were better in the PIB group than the HAP group at different time intervals. CONCLUSION: PIB is safe for presternotomy administration and provided significant quality of pain relief postoperatively, as seen after tracheal extubation for a period of 24 h, on rest as well as with deep breathing, coughing, and chest physiotherapy exercises when compared to intravenous morphine alone after sternotomy. This study further emphasizes the role of preemptive analgesia in mitigating postoperative sternotomy pain and it's role as a plausible safe analgesic adjunct facilitating fast tracking with sternotomies on systemic heparinization.