Regional analgesia for postoperative pain control after thoracic surgery: a narrative review
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Effective management of post-thoracotomy pain is essential to prevent pulmonary complications and reduce the risk of developing chronic pain syndrome. Although systemic opioids remain a common option, their use is limited by significant adverse effects, making regional analgesia the cornerstone of postoperative pain management. Thoracic epidural analgesia, historically regarded as the gold standard, provides potent postoperative pain relief but carries risks of hypotension and, in rare cases, severe neurological events. Thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) has emerged as the primary alternative, offering comparable analgesic efficacy and an improved safety profile, particularly in maintaining hemodynamic stability. However, PVB is technically demanding and associated with a higher failure rate and localized procedural complications such as pneumothorax. Fascial plane blocks have recently been developed to prioritize safety. The erector spinae plane block is technically simpler, using the transverse process as a “bony backstop” to minimize the risk of pleural injury; however, its analgesic potency may be lower than that of PVB. The intertransverse process block seeks to combine the efficacy of PVB with enhanced safety; however, supporting evidence remains limited. Alternative regional techniques, such as serratus anterior plane block, intercostal nerve block, and continuous wound instillation, typically provide insufficient analgesia for the comprehensive pain associated with open thoracotomy. No regional analgesic technique has demonstrated universal superiority. The optimal approach should be individualized, balancing the distinct risk–benefit profile of each block with patient comorbidities, surgical factors, and institutional expertise.
Abstract
Effective management of post-thoracotomy pain is essential to prevent pulmonary complications and reduce the risk of developing chronic pain syndrome. Although systemic opioids remain a common option, their use is limited by significant adverse effects, making regional analgesia the cornerstone of postoperative pain management. Thoracic epidural analgesia, historically regarded as the gold standard, provides potent postoperative pain relief but carries risks of hypotension and, in rare cases, severe neurological events. Thoracic paravertebral block (PVB) has emerged as the primary alternative, offering comparable analgesic efficacy and an improved safety profile, particularly in maintaining hemodynamic stability. However, PVB is technically demanding and associated with a higher failure rate and localized procedural complications such as pneumothorax. Fascial plane blocks have recently been developed to prioritize safety. The erector spinae plane block is technically simpler, using the transverse process as a “bony backstop” to minimize the risk of pleural injury; however, its analgesic potency may be lower than that of PVB. The intertransverse process block seeks to combine the efficacy of PVB with enhanced safety; however, supporting evidence remains limited. Alternative regional techniques, such as serratus anterior plane block, intercostal nerve block, and continuous wound instillation, typically provide insufficient analgesia for the comprehensive pain associated with open thoracotomy. No regional analgesic technique has demonstrated universal superiority. The optimal approach should be individualized, balancing the distinct risk–benefit profile of each block with patient comorbidities, surgical factors, and institutional expertise.