• Alparslan Kuş, Yavuz Gürkan, Zehra İpek Arslan, Aslı Gül Akgül, Can Aksu, Kamil Toker, and Mine Solak.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey. alparslankus@gmail.com.
• Agri. 2015 Jan 1; 27 (3): 139-42.

ObjectivesUltrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) may be employed for postoperative analgesia in thoracic surgery. In application of TPVB, single injections, multiple injections or catheter techniques may be used. In this paper we present our experiences with ultrasound-guided TPVB in thoracic surgery patients for postoperative analgesia.MethodsPatients undergoing thoracic surgery and on whom ultrasound-guided TPVB was performed for postoperative analgesia from January 2012 to March 2013 in our clinic were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data, block technique, complications and 1st, 6th, 12th and 24th hour VAS scores were recorded.ResultsA total of 18 patients had TPVB. Single injection was administered to 9 patients, multiple injections to 5, and catheters to 4. While statistically insignificant, 1st hour VAS scores were found to be greater than 3 in the single injection and catheter groups.ConclusionSimilarly to multiple injection and continuous TPVB administration, ultrasound-guided single injection TPVB provides effective 24-hour postoperative analgesia.

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