Paravertebral Block

Hans Sviggum M.D.
Resident Physician

Sandy Kopp M.D.
Assistant Professor

Department of Anesthesiology
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota

Introduction - TOP

Although Hugo Sellheim of Leipzig performed the first paravertebral block in 1905, this technique went under appreciated until its resurrection in 1979 by Eason and Wyatt.1  Injection of local anesthetics into the paravertebral space results in ipsilateral somatic and sympathetic nerve blockade. The technique may be useful in high-risk patients in whom central neuraxial techniques pose increased risk such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and aortic stenosis.2

Potential advantages of paravertebral blockade over neuraxial techniques include lesser hemodynamic disturbances, better preserved postoperative lung function, comparable analgesia, and intact sensory and motor function distal to target levels.3,4  Single injection, multiple injection, and continuous catheter techniques5 can be performed, and each can provide effective anesthesia and post-operative analgesia.

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