Minerva anestesiologica
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Minerva anestesiologica · Jul 2018
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyIntra- versus postoperative initiation of pain control via a thoracic epidural catheter for lumbar spinal fusion surgery: a randomised trial.
Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is one of the pillars of perioperative pain care. Particularly for spine surgery which causes significant postoperative pain TEA seems like an appealing option. However, beneficial effects of a TEA are questionable when the catheter is not used intraoperatively, a decision that is usually based on the surgeon's wish to perform immediate neurological examination postoperatively. ⋯ Epidural catheters used intraoperatively during TLIF are feasible, significantly reduce pain, intra- and postoperative use of opioids and do not influence the quality of neurological tests directly after the surgical procedure.