Analgesia for thoracic surgery: the role of paravertebral block

An appropriate post operative analgesia after thoracotomies is mandatory to improve the patient's outcome, reduce complications rate, morbidity, hospital cost and length of stay. In this paper we review the evidences regarding the use of paravertebral block for thoracic surgery. In particular we examine the effect of paravertebral block compared to the other technique in four major issues: analgesia, complications rate, postoperative pulmonary function and transition from acute to chronic pain. We conclude that paravertebral block is superior to intravenous analgesia in providing pain control and preserving postoperative pulmonary function while it is equal to thoracic epidural analgesia regarding this two issues. Paravertebral block has a better safety profile when compared to intravenous and thoracic epidural analgesia. Its effect on chronic pain incidence still needs further studies.