title: Postthoracotomy paravertebral analgesia: will it replace epidural analgesia?
abstract: Thoracotomy is associated with significant acute postoperative pain and a high incidence of development of chronic pain. Thoracic epidural analgesia has long been standard treatment for postthoracotomy pain, but recently there has been increased interest in alternative regional techniques, particularly paravertebral analgesia. This article compares the analgesic efficacy, side effects, complications of, and contraindications for thoracic epidural and paravertebral analgesia techniques and discusses their effects on the development of chronic postthoracotomy pain. This information will allow a more considered choice of analgesic technique after thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Niamh P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Katherine P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Grichnik
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013131:Spine; D013908:Thoracotomy
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics