Intercostal nerve blockade with liposomal bupivacaine reduces length of stay after video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lobectomy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intercostal nerve blockade (INB) for thoracic surgery analgesia has gained popularity in practice, but evidence demonstrating its efficacy remains sparse and inconsistent. We investigated the effect of INB with standard bupivacaine (SB) with epinephrine versus liposomal bupivacaine (LB) versus a mixed solution of the two on postoperative pain control and outcomes in video assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy patients.

Methods

Since 2014, our practice has shifted from using INBs with SB with epinephrine, to LB, to a mix of the two as the central component of multimodal analgesia after video assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The blocks are performed in a standardized fashion under thoracoscopic visualization consecutively from two rib spaces above to two below the outermo

SUBMITTER: Banks K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8828528 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature