[Comparative study of intercostal and interpleural block for post-cholecystectomy analgesia].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Postoperative analgesia is a wish of all surgical patients and has been used by most anesthesiologists. In addition to opioids, local anesthetic agents have been employed for peripheral and central blocks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and to compare intercostal and interpleural blocks for post-cholecystectomy analgesia. METHODS Sixty patients undergoing open cholecystectomy with subcostal incision, received either intercostal block (Group IC, n = 30) or interpleural block (Group IP, n = 30), for postoperative analgesia, both with 0.5% bupivacaine (100 mg) with epinephrine. Analgesia duration and patients complaints were evaluated. RESULTS Analgesia was considered satisfactory for both groups. Mean analgesia duration was 505 minutes for Group IP and 620 minutes for Group IC, with no statistical significant difference. Nausea, vomiting and mild abdominal pain were the most frequent postoperative complaints. There was no postoperative complication related to blockade and no pneumothorax was detected. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that both techniques were effective in promoting post-cholecystectomy analgesia, but interpleural block was easier to perform.