Korean J Pain.  2016 Jul;29(3):189-192. 10.3344/kjp.2016.29.3.189.

Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) Block Used for Thoracotomy Analgesia: A Case Report

• Okmen K
• Okmen BM
• Uysal S

• KMID: 2327641
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2016.29.3.189

Abstract

Thoracotomy is a surgical technique used to reach the thoracic cavity. Management of pain due to thoracotomy is important in order to protect the operative respiratory reserves and decrease complications. For thoracotomy pain, blocks (such as thoracic epidural, paravertebral, etc.) and pleural catheterization and intravenous drugs (such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], and opioids, etc., can be used. We performed a serratus anterior plane (SAP) block followed by catheterization for thoracotomy pain. We used 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine for analgesia in a patient who underwent wedge resection for a lung malignancy. We provided analgesia for a period of close to seven hours for the patient, whose postoperative VAS (visual analog scale) scores were recorded. We believe that an SAP block is effective and efficient for the management of pain after thoracotomy.

Keyword

Analgesia; Bupivacaine; Nerve block; Pain; Serratus anterior plane block; Thoracotomy; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Analgesia*
Analgesics, Opioid
Bupivacaine
Catheterization
Catheters
Humans
Lung
Nerve Block
Thoracic Cavity
Thoracotomy*
Ultrasonography
Analgesics, Opioid
Bupivacaine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 SAM (Serratus anterior muscle). R4 (rib four), R5 (rip five), ICM (İntercostal muscle), Yellow arrow: neddle.

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  Fig. 2 Contrast material was seen to spread on the costae.

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  Fig. 3 Catheter position.

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