ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is a high-quality analgesic technique used for many types of surgery, trauma, and chronic pain. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess safety and efficacy of adding dexmedetomidine to levobupivacaine in TPVB for postoperative analgesia after unilateral laparoscopic thoracic sympathectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty adult patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classes I and II, aged 20-45 years, of either sex, submitted for unilateral laparoscopic thoracic sympathectomy under general anesthesia at Mansoura University Hospital. Patients were classified into two groups such as levobupivacaine (GL): patients received isobaric 0.5% levobupivacaine 1 mg/kg in 20-ml volume for TPVB and levobupivacaine-dexmedetomidine (GLD): patients received isobaric 0.5% levobupivacaine 1 mg/kg and 10-µg dexmedetomidine in 20 ml volume for TPVB. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were first tested for normality by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Normally distributed continuous data were analyzed using unpaired Student's t-test. Nonnormally distributed continuous and ordinal data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-test. Categorical data were analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: A faster onset and longer duration of sensory blockade was significantly higher in group GLD with mean ± standard deviation (SD) (8.57 ± 7.22 min and 11.98 ± 1.42 h) than in group GL (15.21 ± 4.35 min and 9.75 ± 3.29 h). Sensory block regression time was significantly longer in group GLD with mean ± SD (10.8 ± 2.31 h) compared to group GL (8.82 ± 1.71 h). Furthermore, a significant reduction in visual analog scale occurred in group GLD compared with the GL group up to 24 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). No significant difference in Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) between both groups. The number of patients asked for postoperative analgesia was significantly fewer in group GLD compared with group GL (14 compared to 21)*. The time (hours) of first request for analgesia was significantly longer in group GLD compared with GL group (7.8 ± 3.22 compared to 9.7 ± 2.51*). The total postoperative fentanyl requirements in 24 h (in micrograms) was significantly less in GLD group compared to GL group (320 ± 110 compared to 190 ± 120*). CONCLUSION: The addition of dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to levobupivacaine in TPVB for elective unilateral laparoscopic thoracic sympathectomy can markedly improve the postoperative analgesia with lower pain scores and a marked reduction of the postoperative analgesic requirements and low side effect profile.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Local anesthetic infiltration for medical thoracoscopy has an analgesic properties for short duration. Single injection thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) provides limited analgesia. PURPOSE: Comparison between thoracic PVB performed at two or three levels with local infiltration for anesthetic adequacy in adult medical thoracoscopy as a primary outcome and postthoracoscopic analgesia and pulmonary function as secondary outcomes for adult medical thoracoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective randomized control study included 63 adult patients with exudative pleural effusion randomly divided into three groups of 21 patients: 3-level PVB, 2-level PVB group, and local infiltration group. Patients with contraindications to regional anesthesia or uncontrolled comorbidities were excluded from the study. Pain visual analog scale and spirometry were used for comparison as anesthetic adequacy in adult medical thoracoscopy as a primary outcome besides prolonged analgesia and improved pulmonary function as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: The anesthetic adequacy was 95.3% in 3-level PVB group, 81% in 2-level PVB group, and 71.5% in local infiltration group. The mean sensory level was 1 ± 0.8 and 1 ± 0.6 segment above and 0.8 ± 0.6 and 0.7 ± 0.7 segment below the injected level in 3-level PVB group and 2-level PVB, respectively. VAS was statistically significant higher in local infiltration compared to the other two groups immediately postthoracoscopic and 1 h after. Two-hour postthoracoscopy, significant increase in forced vital capacity values in the three groups compared to their basal values whereas forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) only in both PVB groups. CONCLUSION: Unilateral 3-level TPVB was superior to 2-level TPVB and LA infiltration for anesthetic adequacy for patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy. Moreover, US-guided TPVB was followed by higher FEV1 values and lower pain scores during the next 12 h postthoracoscopy in comparison to local infiltration, so 3-level TPVB is an effective and relatively safe anesthetic technique for adult patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy which may replace local anesthesia.
