COMPARISON OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THORACIC EPIDURAL AND PARAVERTEBRAL BLOCK FOR POST THORACOTOMY PAIN RELIEF

Post Thoracotomy Pain Relief

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of thoracic epidural and thoracic paravertebral block in post thoracotomy pain relief and early ambulation.
Study Design: Randomized control trial (RCT).
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi a tertiary care health facility, from Jan 2007 to Dec 2007.
Patients and Methods: Thoracic epidural block was given in group-A while thoracic paravertebral block was given in group-B patients post operatively. Pain scores were assessed at 30 min intervals after the dose of 0.25% Bupivacaine using visual analogue scale (VAS).
Results: There was no significant difference for pain scores in first 24 hours after surgery between paravertebral block (PVB) and thoracic epidural group measured at 30 min interval. But complication like hypotension occurred less with PVB.
Conclusion: Paravertebral block is a safe and effective technique and can to be used more widely for unilateral post thoracotomy pain relief.