Paravertebral analgesia is non-inferior to epidural analgesia for pain control and superior to epidural analgesia in terms of the main complication of hypotension.
There is some evidence that paravertebral analgesia is similar to epidural analgesia in efficacy but superior in maintenance of blood pressure. This is a double blind, randomized control trial comparing paravertebral catheters to epidural catheters for the management of post thoracotomy analgesia. Both groups will undergo placement of a pre-induction epidural catheter as well as a surgically placed paravertebral catheter. Patients will also receive PCA morphine. The primary outcome will be daily morphine use measured in milligrams. The co-primary outcome will be time spent with a systolic blood pressure below 90mmHg. Outcomes will be measured during the first five postoperative days.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
21
0.2% ropivacaine into epidural space and saline into paravertebral space
0.4% ropivacaine into paravertebral space and saline into the epidural space
Health Sciences Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Health Sciences Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Analgesic Effect
Total cumulative dose of morphine equivalent narcotics.
Time frame: At postoperative day 5
Hypotension
Cumulative time in which the systolic blood pressure is below 90mmHg.
Time frame: At postoperative day 5
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