Int Surg
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Efficacy of ketorolac tromethamine and extrapleural intercostal nerve block on post-thoracotomy pain. A prospective, randomized study.
Post-thoracotomy pain causes severe impairment of the respiratory function. Epidural analgesia is effective in the treatment of post-thoracotomy pain but may give rise to significant side-effects. Other low-risk and cost-effective analgesic treatments are therefore required. ⋯ Ketorolac tromethamine was effective in the treatment of post-thoracotomy pain. Extrapleural intercostal nerve block allowed a significant reduction in the consumption of opioids. These analgesic techniques could be useful as low-risk, cost-effective and reproducible treatments when more effective techniques, such as epidural analgesia, are contraindicated.