Pain management in video assisted thoracic surgery: evaluation of localised partial rib resection. A new technique

We undertook a re-evaluation of acute and chronic pain generation following Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) with regard to chest wall trauma produced by the instruments and their ports. From intercostal space (ICS) measurements made on 40 patients, it was confirmed that both the camera and the staple gun port diameters are too large for insertion without trauma. An instrument was produced (the "Sari" Punch, Bolton Surgical Services, Sheffield, England) which cleanly excises an elipse of the superior aspect of a rib, prior to the introduction of the ports. At the same time, the recommended orbit of the instruments about the surgical focus was abandoned in favour of an alignment along one ICS so that only one nerve was potentially traumatised. These modifications were then combined with balanced, pre-emptive and continuous paravertebral analgesia and the efficacy of this approach was evaluated in nine patients undergoing VATS. Operation of the rib punch was easy in all patients and was carried out without clinical or radiological trauma to the rib. Insertion of the ports was easy and access was good to all intrathoracic structures. Postoperative analgesia was good and the mean hospital stay was 2.7 days (range 2-4). Follow-up two months later confirmed a satisfactory surgical procedure and no patients complained of chest wall pain or numbness. We conclude that pain generation with VATS must be seriously considered if the technique is to become truly successful. Balanced, pre-emptive, paravertebral analgesia will protect the central nervous system while the removal of an elipse of rib and alignment of the instruments along one ICS will reduce the likelihood of peripheral nerve trauma.