Thoracic Paravertebral Block in Pain Management After Renal Surgery

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the usefulness of ThPVB in postoperative pain management after open renal resection surgery. Design, setting, participants: It was a prospective, randomised, open label study held in a university hospital between 08.2013-12.2014. 58 Patients enrolled in the study were scheduled for elective open renal surgery (open nephrectomy or open nephron-sparing surgery) and randomised into two groups - group PVB (n=27) and group GEN (n=31). Interventions: PVB group received preoperative ThPVB with 0,5% bupivacaine followed by general anaesthesia. GEN group received standard general anaesthesia. Both groups were treated postoperatively with oxycodone IV PCA (patient controlled analgesia) combined with non-opioid analgesics as rescue drugs. The investigators recorded pain severity in VAS, oxycodone requirement in time points, total oxycodone requirement, and sedation levels throughout the first 48h. The investigators measured opioid related adverse events 24 and 48 h postoperatively and patients satisfaction 48h postoperatively.