Thoracic paravertebral block and morphine versus morphine alone for post thoracoscopy pain

Abstract EN

Objective : to evaluate the effect of thoracic paravertebral block and morphine versus morphine alone for thoracoscopic surgeries during the first 4 hours.

Methods : this study was conducted at King Hussein Medical Center-Amman between August 2009 to August 2010.

In this study, 60 patients, were divided into two groups: Group P (paravertebral and morphine) (n = 30), patients received thoracic paravertebral block with bupivacaine 0.25 % in addition to an intravenous single-injection of morphine, 0.1 mg / kg.

Group M (control group) (n = 30), patients received morphine; 0.1 mg / kg injection.

Pain scores were recorded during the first 4 hours after surgery using visual analogue scale.

Also cumulative morphine consumption was recorded during the first 4 hours.

The data was analyzed using student's t-test Results : sixty patients were included in this study, 30 in the paravertebral group (P) and 30 in the control group (M).

Pain scores during the first 4 hours postoperatively were lower in group P than group M.

The quantity of morphine administered per patient in the first 4 hours was 10mg (range 0-18mg) in group M and 6mg (range 0-12mg) in group P.

Conclusion : preoperative paravertebral block combined with intravenous morphine improves postoperative pain outcome after thoracoscopic surgeries.