PARAVERTEBRAL BLOCKADE - FAILURE RATE AND COMPLICATIONS

The failure rate and complications were studied prospectively in 367 p aediatric and adult patients who had received a thoracic or lumbar par avertebral block. The overall failure rate was 10.1%; adults 10.7%; ch ildren 6.2%. The frequency of complications were: hypotension: 4.6%; v ascular puncture: 3.8%; pleural puncture: 1.1%; pneumothorax: 0.5%. Si nce these results are similar to those found with alternative methods, e.g, epidural, intrapleural and intercostal blocks, paravertebral blo ck can be recommended as an effective, safe technique for unilateral a nalgesia in both adults and children.