Intrapleural Ropivacaine Infusion in Cardiac Surgery

The patient will receive 0.2% ropivacaine (20.0 ml) into the pleural cavity intraoperatively before sternal closure. A continuous infusion of 0.2% ropivacaine will be administered through a microcatheter into the drained pleural cavity, with titration of the infusion rate. The initial infusion rate is set at 10 ml/hour.

The patient will receive 20.0 ml of a 0.9% sodium chloride solution into the pleural cavity intraoperatively, prior to sternal closure. A continuous infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride solution will then be administered through a microcatheter into the drained pleural cavity. The initial infusion rate is set at 10 ml/hour.