Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Pain management after open thoracotomy 2025: procedure‐specific postoperative pain management ( PROSPECT ) recommendations
Methodological detailssystematic review-based recommendations, systematic review of RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, modified Delphi approach, Cochrane Risk of bias tool 2
- Systematic review-based recommendations
- Systematic review of RCTs, systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Modified Delphi approach
- Cochrane Risk of bias tool 2
Recommendations
As issued by the authors
Thoracic epidural analgesia or paravertebral blockade as first-line analgesic intervention
ESP, rhomboid intercostal or intercostal nerve blockade could be used as second-line regional analgesia
Basic analgesia: paracetamol and NSAIDs or cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors
- low level of supportive evidence
Acupuncture or cryoanalgesia when regional analgesia cannot be performed
Surgical technique, postoperative physiotherapy and patient education to be based on outcomes other than pain control
Other regional blocks limited to patients who cannot receive thoracic epidural analgesia or paravertebral blockade
Original publication
Pain management after open thoracotomy 2025: procedure‐specific postoperative pain management ( PROSPECT ) recommendations. Anaesthesia. Published 12 January 2026. doi:10.
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