Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42081157›Full record

ReviewCurrent pain and headache reports2026

Paravertebral Block for Postoperative Pain Management After Open Thoracotomy: A Review of Efficacy and Risks.

Drake P Duplechin, Joseph G Wentling, Tucker L Apgar, Ethan J Cazayoux, Shahab Ahmadzadeh, Varsha Allampalli, Sahar Shekoohi, Matthew R Eng, Alan D Kaye

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Current pain and headache reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Drake P DuplechinSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Joseph G WentlingSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, 433 Bolivar St, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
Tucker L ApgarDepartment of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA.
Ethan J CazayouxSchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Shahab AhmadzadehDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Varsha AllampalliDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.
Sahar ShekoohiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA. sahar.shekoohi@lsuhs.edu.
Matthew R EngDepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
Alan D KayeDepartments of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neurosciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, 71103, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewParavertebral block (PVB) is an increasingly utilized regional anesthesia technique for managing postoperative pain in patients undergoing open thoracotomy. Effective pain control following thoracic surgery is crucial for optimizing patient recovery, reducing opioid consumption, and minimizing respiratory complications. RECENT

findingsPVB provides unilateral analgesia by delivering local anesthetic to the paravertebral space, effectively blocking somatic and sympathetic nerve fibers. PVB has gained popularity as an alternative to epidural analgesia due to its efficacy and improved safety profile. While epidural analgesia remains the traditional gold standard for thoracic procedures, it is associated with complications such as hypotension, urinary retention, motor blockade, and the need for catheter placement. In contrast, PVB is easier to administer, produces less hemodynamic instability, and reduce systemic side effects. Recent literature suggests that PVB offers similar or improved pain control, reduced opiod requirements, and fewer postoperative complications. Risks such as vascular puncture, local anesthetic systemic toxicity, and incomplete spread persists; however, ultrasound guidance has iproved block reliability. Given its favorable safety profile and efficacy, PVB is emerging as a preferred option for postoperative pain control in open thoracotomy patients. Further research and randomized trials are needed to standardize technique, dosing, and peroperative protocols.

Indexed as

Nerve BlockPain ManagementPostoperative PainThoracotomyAnesthetics, LocalHumansAnesthetics, LocalOpioid-sparing techniqueParavertebral block (PVB)Postoperative pain managementRegional anesthesiaThoracic surgery analgesiaThoracotomy pain control

Identifiers

PMID42081157

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.