Management of postthoracotomy pain: acute and chronic

Given the discomfort of thoracic surgical incisions, thoracic surgeons must understand and use contemporary multimodality pain treatments. Acute postthoracotomy pain not only causes psychologic distress to the patient but also has detrimental effects on pulmonary function and postoperative mobility, leading to increased morbidity. By choosing the most appropriate and least traumatic surgical incision, adhering to meticulous surgical techniques, and avoiding intercostal nerve injury or rib fractures, surgeons can minimize postoperative pain. Aggressive perioperative and postoperative pain management is best accomplished with use of an epidural anesthetic and covering breakthrough pain with an IV-PCA. Alternatively, an infusion system for continuous administration of local anesthetics directly in the subpleural plane, posterior to the intercostal incision, also provides excellent pain control. Again, use of an IV-PCA as adjuvant therapy is recommended. With careful planning, severe pain and its negative impact on thoracic surgical patients can be prevented.