Paravertebral analgesia in video-assisted thoracic surgery : a new hybrid technique of catheter placement for continuous anesthetic infusion

Advantages of paravertebral analgesia in thoracotomy include the absence of morphine side effects and the lack of contraindications. We introduce a new technique for paravertebral catheter placement during video-assisted thoracic surgery. The catheter is placed in the same intercostal space as the camera port. Anesthetic is injected to reach the parietal pleura. The catheter is inserted through the needle and pushed until the paravertebral space is reached. Postoperative analgesia is performed by a continuous infusion of local anesthetics. Our technique is safe and easy to perform and avoids opioid use. It works differently from intercostal analgesia and paravertebral blocks.