title: Effects of Parasternal Block on Acute and Chronic Pain in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Surgery.
abstract: Background Sternotomy causes considerable postoperative pain and postoperative pain management encompasses different analgesic regimens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of peroperative parasternal block with levobupivacaine on acute and chronic pain after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Materials and Methods A total of 81 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated by opening an envelope to receive either parasternal block with pharmacologic analgesia (group P; before sternal wire placement: sternotomy and mediastinal tube sites were infiltrated with local anesthetics) or pharmacologic analgesia alone (group C) for postoperative pain relief. All patients received intravenous tramadol with patient-controlled analgesia at the end of the surgery. Demographic characteristics, vital signs, tramadol consumption, analgesic intake, and intensity of pain with a visual analogue scale were recorded for each patient. Six months after surgery, the patients' type of chronic pain was evaluated using the Leeds Assessment Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale questionnaire. Results Patients who received parasternal block experienced less pain and needed less opioid analgesic (125.75 ± 28.9 mg in group P vs 213.17 ± 61.25 mg in group C) for 24 hours postoperatively (P < .001). There was no significant difference in nociceptive and neuropathic pain between the groups. Conclusion Parasternal block had a benefical effect on the management of postoperative acute pain and decreased opioid consumption after surgery but had no significant effect in chronic post surgical pain.
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey elifbaki1973@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doğan Bakı
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nilgün
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kavrut Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rauf Umut
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Ayoğlu
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emmiler
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karslı
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hanife
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D056346:Sternotomy; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
keywords: acute pain; analgesia; chronic pain; coronary artery bypass; parasternal block