Thoracic paravertebral block: radiological evidence of contralateral spread anterior to the vertebral bodies

We report contralateral spread of contrast medium anterior to the vertebral bodies after injection of contrast through a thoracic paravertebral cathet er that was used to manage pain in a patient with multiple fractured ribs, We review the literature and propose that the anatomical basis for this obs ervation is spread in the extrapleural compartment of the thoracic paravert ebral space along the subserous fascial plane.