Table 3 Regional anaesthesia and pain relief
Use of epidural in thoracotomy patients (n = 82) | |
< 5% | 50% |
6–25% | 10% |
26–75% | 12% |
76–100% | 18% |
Unsure | 10% |
Postoperative analgesic options (n = 80)a | |
Paracetamol | 98% |
NSAIDs | 55% |
Weak opiates (e.g. codeine) | 76% |
Strong opiates (e.g. morphine) | 91% |
Neuropathic agents (e.g. gabapentin) | 51% |
Local anaesthetics agents (e.g. lidocaine patches/injections) | 46% |
NMDA antagonists (e.g. ketamine) | 8% |