Reduction of post-thoracotomy pain by cryotherapy of intercostal nerves

In a prospective study, 144 patients undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to two groups: In 71 cases cryoanalgesia was applied intraoperatively to the intercostal nerves above and below the incision to relieve postoperative pain, and 73 (control group) received bupivacaine-adrenaline intercostal blockade at the end of the operation. The amount of administered narcotic and mild analgesics, the visual analogue pain scores, the need for further intercostal blockade and the number of postoperative bronchoscopies to clear retained secretion were significantly less in the cryoanalgesia group than in the controls. There were no late nerve complications after cryoanalgesia, which is recommended for routine use in thoracotomy.