An evaluation of intercostal nerve blockade for analgesia following renal transplantation

In a double-blinded study we examined the effect of supplementing patient-controlled morphine analgesia with intercostal nerve blockade to identify if this improved analgesia and reduced morphine requirements following renal transplantation. Fifty patients were randomized to receive unilateral intercostal nerve block with either 0.5% bupivacaine or saline to the lower five intercostal nerves. Each block was performed on the side of surgical incision following the completion of surgery. Patients receiving bupivacaine blockade reported reduced pain scores and used less morphine in the initial 4 h following renal transplantation, but did not demonstrate a significant reduction in overall pain scores, total 24 h morphine requirements, or sedation scores. Two patients developed a pneumothorax, neither of which were clinically apparent at the time of diagnosis, and only detected by chest radiography. A chest radiograph should therefore be considered mandatory after intercostal nerve blockade.