Continuous Paravertebral Block on Postoperative Pain After Hepatectomy

Before anesthesia, continuous right thoracic paravertebral block of T7 is performed. After injection of 5 mL normal saline, a catheter (PAJUNK, Geisingen, Germany) is advanced medially the estimated distance to the paravertebral space. After injection of 1% lidocaine 15ml, the block level is tested by pinprick and recorded 15 minutes later. At the end of operation, syringe contained 0.2% ropivacaine is connected to paravertebral catheter, a 10ml bolus of 0.2% ropivacaine is injected via the paravertebral catheter, followed by an infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% at 6 ml/h for postoperative pain management.

Once arrival at the PACU, all patients were placed on a postoperative analgesic regimen that included patient-controlled analgesia with intravenous sufentanil (bolus 1μg, lockout time 10 min) and tramadol 100 mg IV for severe pain (NRS 6-10).

Before anesthesia, continuous right thoracic paravertebral block of T7 is performed. After injection of 5 mL normal saline, a catheter (PAJUNK, Geisingen, Germany) is advanced medially the estimated distance to the paravertebral space. After injection of 1% lidocaine 15ml, the block level is tested by pinprick and recorded 15 minutes later. At the end of operation, syringe contained 0.9% saline is connected to paravertebral catheter, a 10ml bolus of 0.9% saline is injected via the paravertebral catheter, followed by an infusion of 0.9% saline at 6 ml/h for postoperative pain management.