Thoracic epidural or paravertebral catheter for analgesia after lung resection: is the outcome different?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) or a paravertebral catheter block (PVB) with morphine patient-controlled analgesia influenced outcome in patients undergoing thoracotomy for lung resection. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. SETTING: A tertiary referral center. PARTICIPANTS: The study population consisted of 1,592 patients who had undergone thoracotomy for lung resection between May 2000 and April 2008. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients who received PVBs were younger, had a higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second, had a higher body mass index, a higher incidence of cardiac comorbidity, fewer pneumonectomies, and more wedge resections. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to develop a propensity-matched score for the probability of patients receiving an epidural or a paravertebral catheter. Four patients with an epidural to one with a paravertebral catheter were matched, with 488 patients and 122 patients, respectively. Postmatching analysis now showed no difference between the groups for preoperative characteristics or operative extent. Postmatching analysis showed no significant difference in outcome between the two groups for the incidence of postoperative respiratory complication (p = 0.67), intensive therapy unit (ITU) stay (p = 0.51), ITU readmission (p = 0.66), or in-hospital mortality (p = 0.67). There was a significant reduction in the hospital length of stay in favor of the paravertebral group (6 v 7 days, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Paravertebral catheter analgesia with morphine patient-controlled analgesia seems as effective as thoracic epidural for reducing the risk of postoperative complications. The authors additionally found that paravertebral catheter use is associated with a shorter hospital stay and may be a better form of analgesia for fast-track thoracic surgery.

Thoracoscopic patch insulation to correct phrenic nerve stimulation secondary to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

AIMS: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is an established therapy for heart failure, improving quality of life and prognosis. Despite advances in technique, available leads and delivery systems, trans-venous left ventricular (LV) lead positioning remains dependent on the patient's underlying venous anatomy. The left phrenic nerve courses over the surface of the pericardium laterally and may be stimulated by the LV pacing lead, causing uncomfortable diaphragmatic twitch. This paper describes a video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) procedure to correct phrenic nerve stimulation secondary to cardiac resynchronization therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Most current ways of avoiding phrenic stimulation involve either electronic reprogramming to distance the phrenic nerve from the stimulation circuit or repositioning the lead. We describe a case where the phrenic nerve was surgically insulated from the stimulating current by insinuating a patch of bovine pericardium between the epicardium and native pericardium of the heart thus completely resolving previously intolerable and incessant diaphragmatic twitch. The procedure was performed under general anaesthesia with single-lung ventilation and minimal use of neuromuscular blocking agents. Surgical patch insulation of the phrenic nerve was performed using minimally invasive VATS surgery, as a short-stay procedure, with no complications. No diaphragmatic twitch occurred post-surgery and the patient continued to gain symptomatic benefit from cardiac synchronization therapy (New York Heart Association Class III to II), enabling return to work. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where the trans-venous position of a LV lead is limited by troublesome phrenic nerve stimulation, thoracoscopic surgical patch insulation of the phrenic nerve could be considered to allow beneficial cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Respiratory complications after oesophageal surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The most frequent complications of oesophageal surgery are respiratory and these are associated with increased critical care stay, hospital stay and mortality. This review focuses on the risk factors associated with the development of respiratory complications after oesophageal surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: An acceptable operative mortality, increased and improved quality of life can be gained in appropriately selected patients. When induction therapy is scheduled, smoking cessation is advised. The preoperative treatment of airway pathogens can reduce postoperative complications and this may be particularly relevant in patients who have received induction chemoradiotherapy. Nonrandomized studies suggest that thoracic epidural analgesia improves outcome. Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly used and appears safe but direct comparisons to open surgery in terms of respiratory complications are awaited. Few randomized studies are available to guide anaesthetic management but anaesthetists should aim to avoid hypoxaemia, hypotension, aspiration and limit blood and fluid administration. Postoperative aspiration is common and steps to reduce it are recommended. SUMMARY: The multifactorial nature of respiratory complications after oesophageal surgery may mean that a number of interventions are needed to have a detectable influence on outcome, much like a care bundle strategy.