CONTINUOUS INTERCOSTAL NERVE BLOCK FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER THORACOTOMY - UPDATE 1995

Others have demonstrated the effectiveness of intercostal analgesia wi th bupivacaine hydrochloride (Marcain Plain; Astra). We present a grea tly simplified method of effecting this. Our method is dependent on an intact pleura. To date, we have utilized this technique in 81 patient s. Seventy-five (92.6%) required no additional analgesic in the first 24 hours following operation and 66 (81.5%), in the subsequent four da ys. Only 2 patients had postoperative pulmonary complications. No comp lication related either to the procedure or to the infusion of bupivac aine occurred. The technique as described here is a safe and reliable method of providing analgesia without any side effects after thoracoto my.