title: Use of paravertebral blockade to facilitate early extubation after minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed the first 14 patients who received preoperative paravertebral blockade prior to minimally invasive cardiac surgical procedures. The use of paravertebral blockade along with an anesthetic technique designed to facilitate rapid recovery allowed early extubation in the operating room or intensive care unit in all but one patient. Extubated patients leaving the operating room were comfortable. No postoperative respiratory complications occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. lynch.james@mayo.edu
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mauermann
authors.forename: Juan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: Kent H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rehfeldt
authors.forename: Norman E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000379:methods*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors