Document Detail


Management of postthoracotomy pain: acute and chronic.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17004557     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Given the discomfort of thoracic surgical incisions, thoracic surgeons must understand and use contemporary multimodality pain treatments. Acute postthoracotomy pain not only causes psychologic distress to the patient but also has detrimental effects on pulmonary function and postoperative mobility, leading to increased morbidity. By choosing the most appropriate and least traumatic surgical incision, adhering to meticulous surgical techniques, and avoiding intercostal nerve injury or rib fractures, surgeons can minimize postoperative pain. Aggressive perioperative and postoperative pain management is best accomplished with use of an epidural anesthetic and covering breakthrough pain with an IV-PCA. Alternatively, an infusion system for continuous administration of local anesthetics directly in the subpleural plane, posterior to the intercostal incision, also provides excellent pain control. Again, use of an IV-PCA as adjuvant therapy is recommended. With careful planning, severe pain and its negative impact on thoracic surgical patients can be prevented.
Authors:
Richard P Koehler; Robert J Keenan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Thoracic surgery clinics     Volume:  16     ISSN:  1547-4127     ISO Abbreviation:  Thorac Surg Clin     Publication Date:  2006 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-09-28     Completed Date:  2006-11-09     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101198195     Medline TA:  Thorac Surg Clin     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  287-97     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, 320 East North Avenue, South Tower, 14th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acute Disease
Analgesia / methods
Analgesics / therapeutic use
Chronic Disease
Humans
Pain, Postoperative / etiology,  physiopathology,  therapy*
Preoperative Care
Thoracotomy / adverse effects*,  methods
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Analgesics

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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