Acidosis Following Thoracic Surgery

Effect of intercostal nerve blockade during operation on lung function and the relief of pain following thoracotomy

“…In a previous study from Belfast , Pandit, Galway and Dundee (1973) found that thoracotomy per se was a potent cause of acidosis after operation, and that patients subjected to such operations were unusually sensitive to parenteral analgesics. As an alternative approach to the use of opiates in the relief of pain following surgery, intercostal nerve blockade has been attempted in the past, using local anaesthetic solutions such as dolamine (Graham, Seldon and Priestley, 1949), efocaine (Deaton and Bradshaw, 1952), lignocaine 1% in dextran (Loder, 1960) and carbocaine (Telivuo, 1963(Telivuo, , 1964Moore, Bridenbaugh and Bridenbaugh, 1969) to provide analgesia with minimal respiratory depression.…”