• Karam Azem, Eitan Mangoubi, Benjamin Zribi, and Shai Fein.
• From the Department of Anaesthesia, Rabin Medical Centre, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva (KA, EM. BZ, SF) and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (KA, EM. BZ, SF).
• Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2023 Sep 1; 40 (9): 643651643-651.

AbstractLung transplantation (LTx) is the definitive treatment for end-stage pulmonary disease. About 4500 LTxs are performed annually worldwide. It is considered challenging and complex surgery regarding anaesthesia and pain management. While providing adequate analgesia is crucial for patient comfort, early mobilisation and prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications, standardising an analgesic protocol is challenging due to the diversity of aetiologies, surgical approaches and the potential use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS). Although thoracic epidural analgesia is commonly considered the gold standard, concerns regarding procedural safety and its potential for devastating consequences have led physicians to seek safer analgesic modalities such as thoracic nerve blocks. The advantages of thoracic nerve blocks for general thoracic surgery are well established. However, their utility in LTx remains unclear. Considering paucity of relevant literature, this review aims to raise awareness about the literature gap in the field and highlight the need for further high-quality studies determining the effectiveness of available techniques.Copyright © 2023 European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

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