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Pain Management in General Thoracic Surgery
Five methods used to keep patients comfortable after chest surgery
3 min read
Pain management after general thoracic surgery matters to patients and surgeons alike. Thoracic procedures are among the most painful in surgery, so several methods are layered together to minimize discomfort.
What we use
- Minimally invasive surgery, especially robotic surgery, which reduces discomfort through small incisions that limit damage to tissue, muscle, and nerve.
- Local anesthetic blocks administered before and during the procedure.
- Cryotherapy to freeze nerves, creating a temporary nerve block that takes effect in about 18 hours and lasts roughly three months. Dr. Roberts leads research in this area.
- Patient-controlled analgesia with IV morphine, a low narcotic dose that patients regulate themselves.
- Additional medication given by nursing staff, including IV acetaminophen and IV Toradol.
