Bilateral continuous paravertebral catheters for reduction mammoplasty

• Published in: Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Vol. 46; no. 8; pp. 1042 - 1045
• Main Authors: Buckenmaier iii, C. C., Steele, S. M., Nielsen, K. C., Martin, A. H., Klein, S. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01-09-2002; Blackwell
• Subjects: Analgesia, Epidural - instrumentation; Analgesia, Epidural - methods; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Catheterization; Female; Humans; Local anesthesia. Pain (treatment); Mammaplasty; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nerve block; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; paravertebral catheter; reduction mammoplasty; regional anesthesia; Human; Postoperative; Open reduction; Catheterization; Continuous; Blocking; Catheter; General anesthesia; Bilateral; Mammary gland diseases; Analgesia; Regional anesthesia; Pain; Surgery; Dorsal spine; Female; Mammary gland; Technique
• ISSN: 0001-5172; 1399-6576
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2002.460820.x

Surgical procedures of the breast can result in significant postoperative pain. Paravertebral nerve blocks have been used successfully in the management of analgesia after breast surgery but are limited by a single injection. This report describes the use of bilateral paravertebral catheters to provide extended analgesia for reduction mammoplasty.
A 48‐year‐old female underwent bilateral paravertebral catheter placement at thoracic level 3 and local anesthetic injections followed by general anesthesia for elective reduction mammoplasty. She reported no pain following the operation and required no supplemental opioids for pain management during her overnight recovery.
This case demonstrates a method for extended bilateral thoracic analgesia. The technique may offer an alternative to traditional outpatient analgesics for reduction mammoplasty.