Ultrasound-Guided Mid-Point Transverse Process to Pleura Block for Thoracotomy Incisions

After marking the level of the incision by surgeon (commonly T5- T6) The patient will be situated in the lateral position, the block area will be sterilized with povidine-iodine, and high -frequency linear ultrasound probe will be placed oblique parasagittally 3 cm lateral to the spinous process at the level of skin incision. 100-mm short bevel echogenic needle (Contiplex, B.Braun, Germany) will be inserted in plane from cranial to caudal direction. The desired end point of the needle tip will be the midpoint of the line between the posterior border of transverse process and the pleura titrated bolus of 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and dexamethazone 8 mg will be injected at the target site. At end of the surgery general anaesthesia will be stopped with reversal of muscle relaxation and awakening of patient

General anesthesia will be induced with the same protocol and MTP block will be done but with injection of placebo (2 ml normal saline) instead of local anesthetic . On arrival to the PACU postoperative Numerical Rating scale at rest and coughing will be recorded, analgesia will be maintained with intravenous paracetamol 1 g every 8 h and required additional rescue analgesia (morphine) at any time will be calculated.