Unilateral intercostal nerve blocks provide pain control as effectively as a continuous thoracic epidural, and will a lower incidence of side effects.
In this study we will study to see if a single set of unilateral intercostal nerve blocks provides pain control as effectively as a continuous thoracic epidural, and will a lower incidence of side effects. Although the anesthesiologists involved in providing care for patients having thoracotomy incisions at St. Mary's Hospital are experts at placing thoracic epidural catheters, this study will attempt to show that a less technically challenging procedure done by surgeons intra-operatively can provide comparable pain relief.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
102
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Pain Scores With Cough on First Postoperative Day
Pain with cough documented using the numerical rating scale pain scores (0-10)
Time frame: In the morning (8 am) on first postoperative day
Pain Scores With Cough on the Second Postoperative Day
Pain with cough documented using the numerical rating scale pain scores (0-10). Zero indicates no pain, and 10 indicates the worst pain one could imagine.
Time frame: In the morning (8 am) on the second postoperative day
Pain Scores at Rest in the Morning on the First Postoperative Day
NRS pain scores on a 0-10 scale at rest at 8 am on the first postoperative day. Zero indicates no pain, and 10 indicates the worst pain one could imagine.
Time frame: Each morning for two days postoperative
Pain Scores at Rest on the Second Postoperative Day
NRS pain scores on a 0-10 scale at rest in the morning on the second postoperative day. Zero indicates no pain, and 10 indicates the worst pain one could imagine.
Time frame: Each morning for two days postoperative
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